Council welcomes M54/M6 Toll Road consultation
The news that the Government has committed to fund a direct link from the M54 to the M6 Toll Road will provide a further boost to Telford and Wrekin’s economy.
Telford & Wrekin Council has welcomed the news that a consultation will begin on the link road very soon, signaling that it is moving a step nearer.
It follows a campaign launched by the council nearly three years ago, supported by both the borough’s MPs and the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), for a proper link from the M54 to the M6 North and the M6 Toll Road.
The link will help boost the borough economy, which over the last two years has outpaced national growth, and increase opportunities created by new developments such as the i54 development, the new Jaguar Land Rover plant near the borough’s border, Telford’s strong automotive sector and the Council’s own Telford 54 development site.
A direct M6 Toll and M6 North link will help reduce transport costs for borough businesses and improve access to the borough as well providing more prominent signage to Telford from the M6.
Council leader Kuldip Sahota said: “This is more great news for the borough economy and another sign that national planners recognise the strong economic growth that is underway here.
“Latest figures show that in the last two years our economy grew by 8.3% - virtually twice the national figure.
“It is great to see that the Treasury are now acknowledging this and are listening to what we have been saying about the need to support transport links to an area where the economy is growing so rapidly.
“We look forward to taking part in the consultation and making sure that this link can come about as quickly as possible.”
Graham Wynn, chairman of the Marches LEP, added: "Better M6 connectivity is one of our priority investment areas and so this announcement is great news for the region.
“The M54/M6 corridor is vital to businesses operating in Telford and Wrekin, Shropshire and the wider Marches. Telford, which has the largest supply of ready to go development land in the West Midlands, is well placed for the Jaguar Land Rover supply chain at i54, and a new link road will be of huge benefit to these companies as well as those living and working in the surrounding areas."
The Treasury has said the link is set to be given the go-ahead, subject to a deal being struck with unidentified developers who are being asked to provide funding.
