Free use of M6 Toll set to be debated in Parliament
WHETHER the M6 Toll should be made free to use during emergencies is set to be debated in the House of Commons today.
Solihull MP Julian Knight will raise the matter during a debate in Westminster Hall this morning.
There was outcry two months ago when the M6 northbound in Birmingham was closed for almost 24 hours following a fatal accident.
The accident gridlocked Birmingham city centre throughout the day and the West Midlands motorway network was in chaos with drivers stranded in the queues.
Repair workers trying to carry out emergency resurfacing work were trapped in the congestion further delaying the road’s reopening.
Ironically, the situation was revisited last night when a serious fuel spillage caused the closure of the motorway at Spaghetti Junction.
The northbound carriageway was closed for 10 hours following the incident, eventually reopening early this morning.
The situation prompted a public inquiry chaired by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, during which Highways England admitted it should have declared a major incident following the problems.
There were several calls following the chaos for the M6 Toll to be made free to use during such problems as it would have alleviated the congestion through the Birmingham conurbation.
Ironically, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin was in Birmingham on the day of the accident in February opening the new HS2 offices and witnessed the problems for himself.
He promised to look into the matter ahead of today’s debate.
The West Midlands Combined Authority has proposed the nationalisation of the toll motorway to improve the flow of traffic throughout the region.
It said free usage of the road would help improve the economic fortunes of the region – a key driver of the Midlands Engine plan.
