Telford business leaders back the M6 link campaign
Business leaders in Telford and Wrekin are backing the campaign to persuade the government to build a proper motorway link from the M54 to the M6 North and the M6 Toll road.
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.
Telford and Wrekin is home to a great many businesses who base themselves in the borough, but who have need to travel throughout the country and beyond, as well as receive goods and services into their companies from around the world.
The current road network does not allow for the easy access of both goods and services in and out of the borough.
Local businesses have been letting the Council know what issues they face with the current road network and how a new link could significantly improve not only business for their own organisation, but also for others in the area.
Jeremy Wilson, Operations Director for Simmonds Transport, said “The M6 North/M54 link is a key project as far as I am concerned, for both Simmonds Transport as a company, and the local business economy within Telford.
“Currently when on route to the M6 North, we have to use A roads and pass through towns and villages. This causes congestion, increases our wage and fuel costs, and increases the wear and tear on our vehicles.
He went on to say that “By providing the link road, this will have a cost saving benefit to us as a company, and also ensure HGVs are kept as much as possible to main motorway links.
“By introducing the M6 north/M54 link, and with the introduction of the Rail Freight Terminal in Telford, this should give Telford the infrastructure to move forward in attracting large companies to the area, and increase the local economy”
David Laurie, Director of Wrekin Removals, said: "The link from the M54 to the North bound M6 is long overdue. The congestion at junction 1 of the M54 every morning is a constant inconvenience.
“Not only does it cost us time in man hours but there is also the added cost of fuel. The link road would not only save us time and money as a Telford based business but the environmental impact on the residents of Featherstone and surrounding areas would be greatly improved.”
Finally, Rod Baggott, Director of Ricoh, said: “Part of our business is located down in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. We have numerous staff travelling between the two sites on a daily basis.
“The route taken is the M54 and M6 toll, and vice-versa. The connection between these two motorways is very poor.
“Although in distance the connection is short, it is often heavily congested especially at peak journey times, and as a result it can take a long time to make the connection. Hence a proper junction to connect these motorways would enable quicker journeys between our two sites and improve our overall efficiency as a company.”
Telford & Wrekin Council leader Kuldip Sahota has written to the Secretary of State for Transport to ask for an urgent meeting to improve the connection between the M54 and the M6 North and M6 Toll.
Councillor Sahota’s letter to Justine Greening MP asks for the Secretary of State’s support for the scheme due to its potential to provide significant traffic and economic benefits to the regional economy. The scheme is currently under review by the Department for Transport.
“I am confident that the support we are getting from business leaders, local MPs and Council leaders will have a significant influence on Justine Greening MP accepting our request for a meeting about the need for the link road.
“There is a great deal of opportunity for Telford and Wrekin, and the surrounding authority areas, to benefit from such a link and we want to urge everyone to get involved and back our campaign to bring this link to fruition. People may think that now is not the time to be lobbying for major investment, but the Department for Transport are already starting to prioritise their major road schemes for 2014 and beyond, if this scheme is not given the priority it deserves the regional economy could be deprived of the potential growth it would support for another decade or more.”
