Archived press release

M6 expressway: 98% against

19 July 2005

Friends of the Earth responded with amazement to the Government's claim today [1] that there was no consensus about its plans for the M6 Expressway, despite almost 98% of responses to its consultation expressing opposition to the plans. The proposed M6 Expressway would be a privately-run motorway parallel to the M6 between Birmingham and Manchester [2].

Minister for Transport Stephen Ladyman announced today that further work to consider the feasibility and impact of the proposed M6 Expressway has been commissioned. He said:

"Having consulted on the idea of an Expressway, it is clear that there is no consensus. But the Expressway is at this stage only a concept, and more consideration needs to be given to the options before a decision can be made…I am clear that this very important route does need more capacity. By carrying out this further work, we will be able to look at the benefits and impacts of both schemes with a view to making a decision on a preferred option next year."

Tony Bosworth, Friends of the Earth's Senior Transport Campaigner, said:

"How clear an expression of public opinion does the Government want? Almost 98 per cent of people who responded to the consultation opposed plans for the M6 Expressway, but the Government claims there is no consensus. What part of the word `consensus' do they not understand? Once again, the Government is ignoring clearly-expressed public opinion to pursue its own agenda. It should abandon plans for the M6 Expressway and focus on the real transport problems in the area".

Friends of the Earth's West Midlands campaigner Chris Crean said:

"Earlier this month the Government was trying to persuade the rest of the world to take climate change seriously. Now it is ignoring the results of its own consultation process and promoting more road-building which will damage swathes of precious countryside and contribute to the problem of global warming. If we are ever to get to grips with Britain's transport crisis we must promote road traffic reduction, invest in alternatives to the car and make the cost of motoring reflect the damage it causes to the environment."

Friends of the Earth believes the Government should abandon plans for the M6 Expressway, and should focus on tackling the real transport problems of the M6 corridor by investing in better public transport and safer streets for cycling and walking in the West Midlands and Greater Manchester, and in towns and cities along the M6 such as Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford.

Notes

1. www.dft.gov.uk/pns/displaypn.cgi?pn_id=2005_0078

2. The M6 Expressway would run between junctions 11a (the northern end of the existing M6 Toll near Cannock in Staffordshire) and 19 of the existing M6 (near Knutsford in Cheshire). Friends of the Earth opposes the plan because:

• It isn't needed - congestion on the M6 in Staffordshire and Cheshire is within the capacity of the motorway.
• It doesn't address the real congestion problems - the real congestion problems in the area are in the Greater Manchester and West Midlands conurbations and the towns and cities along the M6 corridor such as Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford and Newcastle-under-Lyme.
• It won't benefit the economy of Staffordshire and Cheshire
• It wouldn't provide a real choice - a two-tier road network is not real choice
• It would encourage people to travel further, increasing emissions of gases causing climate change
• It would damage the local environment - specific impacts cannot be assessed as there is no detailed route
• It could lead to further road-building
• It is part of a wider agenda, with similar parallel toll roads possible for the M1, M4, M5 and M62 among others

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust