News Release

10th September 2002

FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS, M6 TOLL RACE

Following Michael Fabricant's approach to the M6 Toll Group with the idea to stage a charity marathon before the road opens, Paul Neal, Project Director of the CAMBBA Construction Group has now written saying "while these are all great ideas, they all raise a number of wider issues including public safety, security and logistics. We, together with Midland Expressway" (which will operate the toll road when it is opened) "are currently looking at the various proposals to see whether any are viable given these concerns". He goes on to say that they would be pleased to discuss this issue further when Michael Fabricant views the project on a planned visit scheduled for Friday 18th October.

Michael Fabricant now says: "Where there is a will there is always a way. This idea is not unique and staging an event such as a marathon on the M6 Toll before its opening could raise tens of thousands of pounds for local charities. It would be a way of repaying local communities who have had to put up with all the disruption caused to their lives during the construction of the road.

"When I meet CAMBBA and Midland Expressway next month, I will be urging them to be positive about this suggestion which would do so much for local people".

This story relates to the News Release of 27th August.