Telford & Wrekin Council launches M6 link campaign
Telford & Wrekin Council today launched a campaign to persuade the government to build a proper motorway link from the M54 to the M6 North and the M6 Toll road.
Council leader Kuldip Sahota was today joined by MPs and local business leaders at the launch of the campaign in the borough.
The council believes that the time is right for the link to be built, with the opening of the i54 business park just off junction two of the M54 opening up new opportunities for development in the area.
There are obvious economic benefits for Telford & Wrekin and neighbouring council areas from the building of the link, which was originally proposed when the M6 Toll was built but has subsequently been delayed.
However, it has since been identified as one of several major road schemes nationwide that is being reviewed to decide its long term future.
Councillor Sahota urged other neighbouring authorities affected to get behind the campaign for a better link to be built.
“As a council, we have a responsibility to ensure the transport infrastructure both in the borough and in the surrounding area that serves it is as effective and as efficient as it possibly can be,” said Councillor Sahota.
“One obvious flaw with what we have at the moment is that the current link from the M54 to get on to the M6 northbound and M6 Toll is not fit for purpose and we know from talking to business leaders that the lack of connectivity between the M54 and M6 north and M6 Toll impact on their operations and their decisions to invest in our local economy.
“We think it is important that this project is reconsidered in the light of these messages from business and in particular when there is major economic development planned at i54 near Junction 2 on the M54 through the Jaguar Land Rover development.
“We will be writing to the Secretary of State for Transport asking for a meeting with her to discuss this project and its importance to our part of the West Midlands and I am also writing to all neighbouring authorities to join us in supporting the scheme.
“We believe the original plan to build a proper link to serve communities in Staffordshire, Wolverhampton and the Black Country, Shropshire and us here in Telford and Wrekin would deliver a fast and efficient link to both the M6 north and Toll road at no cost to the tax payer or the motorist and the Government should underwrite this funding.
“We hope that MPs, representatives from neighbouring authorities and business organisations will all write to government to support our campaign.
