News Release

23rd January 2006

M6 TOLL - M54 LINK

Michael Fabricant initiated a short debate in the Commons on the 'missing link' between the M6 Toll road and the M54 Motorway to Shropshire and Wales.

He first asked the formal question of Stephen Ladyman, Minister for Roads: "If he will make a statement on the planned future link between the M6 toll motorway and the M54."

Stephen Ladyman replied: "The Highways Agency is working with the local highway authority to consider the benefits and disadvantages of providing an upgraded link road between the M54 and the M6/M6 toll motorway. The study work is in its early stages and an initial assessment of the options will be complete by the autumn of 2006." Michael Fabricant then responded: "The Minister is dead right in saying that the study is in its early stages because an inquiry under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 has revealed that the Highway Agency says: 'The current position regarding the M54 to M6 Toll Link is that development work has not proceeded as quickly as originally planned.' He recognised the importance of that link road to strengthen not only the economy of mid-Wales, but those of my hon. Friend the Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham (Daniel Kawczynski) and greater Shropshire- Owen Paterson (MP for North Shropshire interrupted: "And North Shropshire". - (Michael Fabricant): "And North Shropshire, as my honorouable Friend points out. Indeed, the link would benefit everywhere west of the M6 toll, so when will it be ready? Dr. Ladyman answerd: "We have already recognised that, in principle, we would be minded to support the scheme, but we must consider the details. In particular, one of the things that we must decide before we design such a scheme is where the new capacity between the midlands and the north-west will be provided-will the M6 be widened, or will there be a parallel toll road? Until we make that decision, we cannot decide on the design of the junction."

There then followed a debate with other MPs weighing in. David Wright (Telford) (Lab): "Does my hon. Friend know that the M54 was recently voted one of the most popular motorways in Britain? That is, of course, largely because it goes to and from Telford- "

Daniel Kawczynski (Shrewsbury and Atcham) (Con): "And Shropshire." David Wright: "And wider Shropshire, of course. However, one of the problems that the business community in particular complains about is the fact that people cannot go northbound directly off the M54 on to the M6, and there is no direct link, of course, to the M6 toll road. It would be particularly advantageous to local business in Telford and across Shropshire if those links could be made. Will the Minister look very seriously at the proposal?" Dr. Ladyman: "I have no doubt that the quality of the drive experience on the M54 and the destinations that can be reached on it are responsible for its popularity. On paper, the case for the scheme looks very strong- I can certainly understand the benefits to the local economy-but we must consider it very carefully, and we must also consider the disadvantages and weigh the benefits against those disadvantages. In particular, we must know what we are going to do with the M6 before we can finalise the design scheme, so we cannot commit ourselves at this stage, although I repeat that it looks as though there is a strong case." Sir Patrick Cormack (South Staffordshire) (Con): "Does the hon. Gentleman realise that any such road will almost certainly go through my constituency, that there is great uncertainty in South Staffordshire, because of the doubtful outcome of the M6 inquiries, and that the sooner we can know precisely what the Government will propose, the better?" Dr. Ladyman: "I quite understand the hon. Gentleman's concerns, and such things must be disconcerting for his constituents. This matter has been going on for many years, even before this Government came to power, so I certainly understand his concerns and realise that he wants as early a decision as possible. I undertake to provide as early a decision as I can. I understand that he has already met the Secretary of State for Transport to discuss the issue, and if I can be in any way helpful to the hon. Gentleman's constituents in the meantime, I will certainly try to do so." Mr. David Kidney (Stafford) (Lab): "The non-trunk roads that motorists are using in the absence of the link road are mostly in the Stafford constituency, so may I assure the Minister that there is a lot of public support locally for the link, that it would make rural roads safer and that it could solve the problem of the present bottleneck where the M6 toll road joins the M6 motorway? May I add my voice to that of those who are urging him to treat this matter with some urgency?"