Andy Street, the newly-elected Mayor of the West Midlands, has echoed Julian Knight’s call for the M6 Toll motorway to be opened to normal traffic during emergencies.
The Birmingham Post reports that he has said that the road, which is Britain’s only pay-as-you-go motorway, “does not contribute as much to the region as it could”.
Andy particularly recommended that the M6 Toll should be used to alleviate congestion during crises, and that control of that decision should be passed to a local figure such as the mayor – echoing calls made more than a year ago by Julian.
After serious disruption in February 2016 cost the West Midlands economy an estimated £40 million, Julian arranged an urgent meeting with ministers and a special Westminster debate to push for reform and make the ‘rich person’s motorway’ work for everybody.
Commenting on the plan, Julian said:
“I’m very pleased that Andy Street shares my conviction that the M6 Toll needs to work better for everybody in the West Midlands, and I look forward to working with him to make our message heard by both the new owners and the Government.
“On top of the obvious economic damage caused by gridlock, there are environmental and social costs too: more pollution, longer journeys, missed connexions, and more pollution. It’s wrong that a motorway built as the ‘Birmingham Relief Road’ can stand empty when we need it most.
This Government believes that more power should be in the hands of accountable local figures – that’s why it created the mayoralty and Combined Authority. It’s time to walk the walk and place responsibility for opening the M6 Toll in Andy’s capable hands.”