Executive Summary

The West Midlands Business Council, comprising nineteen representative organisations (see Annex 1), is promoting the business needs within the West Midlands region.

One of the most critical issues facing the business sector is the congested transport infrastructure of the region, including the pressing issue of the limited road capacity within the region.

Therefore, we welcome the Government's decision to consult on the proposal for a new M6 Toll Road. We are, though, concerned, that the Government's thinking in this area had not been effectively communicated to the regional business sector – as well as to regional public agencies – at an earlier stage, when Regional Planning Guidance was being developed within the region, with the full engagement of the regional business community.

Nonetheless, in this response to the Government's consultation paper, we cautiously welcome the plans for a new M6 Toll Road between Birmingham and

Manchester – but this support is predicated on addressing the following issues:

-           Capacity problems on the M6;

-                      The assessment of the impact of the toll road if national road charging is introduced;

-                      Regulation of Toll Charges;

-                      The impact of the road upon north Staffordshire

-                      The impact of the road upon tourist venues

-                      The need to compensate affected rural businesses

-                      The need to ensure that the development of the project will not divert attention and resources in addressing road congestion in and around the West Midlands conurbation.

This submission will examine each of these areas in more detail. 

a)                            Capacity Problems

We welcome the Government's decision to focus on the clear capacity problems on the M6. This is a pressing issue that requires urgent attention. Congestion around various junctions is hindering effective business travel in the West Midlands region and on cross country routes.

We are concerned, though, that any decision to move ahead with the Midlands Expressway could, in reality, set back plans for the urgent need for improvements on the M6 rather than going ahead with existing plans, as stated in Regional Planning Guidance for road widening on critical junctions on the M6.

Therefore, the business sector requires the Government to provide a clear analysis of the business case for widening and the Midlands Expressway so that business can come to a considered judgement on whether widening or the building of a new toll road would be the most effective approach in urgently addressing the serious congestion problems in this area.

b)                            Impact of National Road Charging

The business sector positively notes the statement, contained in the consultation document describing the benefit of the proposed road, in section 7 of the document:

"Drivers would have the choice of using the M6 or paying for a quicker trip. Those drivers benefiting from the faster toll road also improve conditions for those choosing the original road".

We support this statement and accept that there is a place for toll roads, within a clear policy framework, in addressing traffic congestion and, thereby, improving traffic flow at strategically important locations across the United Kingdom.

Our concern, though, rests in the possibility that all forms of road transport will be subject to national road charging. We understand that Government plans for national road charging for HGVs are already advanced and if this is extended to cars, then the advantage of the toll road, as described in the above statement, may limit the impact of the new road with patterns of traffic flow being substantially different due to this potential change in policy.

Therefore the business sector believes that the Government must clarify its intentions in terms of road charging to ensure the proposals for the new M6 Toll Road are properly assessed.

c)                            Regulation of Toll Charges

For businesses in the West Midlands region, the flow of goods is a critical issue. The region has a strong manufacturing base which relies on just in time deliveries as part of its supply chain operations and in ensuring products are delivering at the right time to retail outlets. Eighty per cent of the land mass of the West Midlands is devoted to the rural economy and therefore the effective movement of agricultural goods is particularly important for the region's economy.

Therefore, in recognition of the importance of freight operations to the regional economy, we are concerned at the low level of HGV traffic on the existing M6 Toll Road. We believe this low level is, in part, linked to the toll charges as set by Midlands Expressway Limited, the operator of the current M6 Toll Road. While we welcome the recent decision of the operator to lower its charges, this has, so far, not led to any significant rise in HGV traffic.  

Freight operators are clear that they are willing to pay road tolls if this is directly linked to HGV traffic avoiding congested roads – but the rate for road tolls has to reflect the current markets costs that reflect upon overall operating costs for the haulage industry.

Therefore, further to the experience of the current M6 Toll Road, we would support a light touch regulatory framework to ensure tolls are set at acceptable rates for HGVs as well as for small businesses. We believe an acceptable framework could be agreed with the business sector.

d)                            North Staffordshire

The West Midlands Business Council are strong supporters of the Government's efforts to economically regenerate north Staffordshire.

Businesses in Stoke on Trent and the surrounding area have endured a difficult period due to the impact of global markets on specific sectors and subsequent restructuring within those sectors. The Market Renewal Area in north Staffordshire and the work of Advantage West Midlands to address business decline are vital in order to restore the economic prospects of this sub region.

Therefore the West Midlands Business Council is particularly sensitive to any developments that may impact upon the economic recovery of north Staffordshire. That is why we believe that the current plans for the new M6 Toll Road would need to demonstrate that it would not encourage potential business traffic to by pass this area and thereby – effectively – leading to even greater transport problems connecting north Staffordshire to the rest of the region.

Therefore we propose that the Highways Agency considers how links to north Staffordshire from the proposed toll road can be firmly established, possibly in the area of the existing Junction 15 to join up with the major west – east route to the M1 and A50. This would help to achieve a balanced sustainable economy across the West Midlands.

e)                            Tourist Venues

The consultation paper highlights the many tourist venues near the proposed route, such as Stafford Castle. It is important to ensure that the design of the route does not endanger the one of the critical elements within the Regional Economic Strategy – ensuring that a thriving tourist sector is developed.

Therefore we propose that the design of the road should facilitate easy access to tourist venues and we would support the Highways Agency in undertaking the necessary technical assessment with Heart of England Tourism.

We believe there is a potential for the new road to provide positive benefits for the tourist sector – but only after a full technical assessment is completed.

f)                              Compensation for rural businesses

The Department for Transport is considering compensation levels for rural businesses directly affected by this project, we would urge the Department to recognise the existing economic difficulties for these rural businesses when calculating compensation levels.

g)                            Impact upon the West Midlands conurbation

Statements contained in the consultation paper effectively demonstrated that there is a need to address increased traffic flows on the M6. We accept this position and this explains our cautious support for the project, subject to the issues we have identified, as above.

There is, though, one more important caveat that is linked to our cautious support – the need to address the debilitating levels of congestion in and around the West Midlands conurbation. All business representative organisations have continually stressed that intra regional and cross country traffic flows are hampered by congestion in the West Midlands conurbation, particularly around Birmingham and with limited access in the western side of the conurbation.     

We are very concerned that with attention on a possible new M6 Toll Road, this will result in a diversion of resources and attention away from the most pressing road capacity problems in the region, such as congestion on the M6 south of Junction 11, the limited capacity in the Midlands motorway box amongst many other matters.  

We would therefore call on the Government to provide firm reassurances that whatever decision is reached with the proposed new toll road, that this will not lead to any dilution of resources needed to address the congestion issues within the conurbation as well as seeking assurances that the Government will take urgent consideration, and subsequently, action in addressing this specific issue.

If, though, the propose new toll road diverts resources away addressing the issues as identified in the conurbation, then the West Midlands business community will find it difficult to support a toll road which will not address the most pressing road transport congestion problems in the region.

Conclusion

The issue to be addressed is the severe congestion on the M6 and whilst we cautiously welcome the Toll Road proposals we do so only as an alternative option to widening the M6 itself which should continue to be considered. The extent of congestion relief, the timing of the additional capacity and the environmental impacts should be critical factors in the assessment of the options available.

In our submission, we have concentrated on these factors and we urge the Government to clarify these issues with the business sector in the West Midlands region before any further steps are taken.