In Parliamentary Questions to the Transport Secretary in the Chamber of the
House of Commons today (Tuesday 28th January), Michael Fabricant told Roads
Minister John Spellar that while the new M6 Toll Motorway (due to open early
2004) would relieve the Birmingham M6 bottleneck and provide improved road
connections from the south east of England to the north west, "a few short
miles of single-carriage way separates the M6 Toll road from the M54 which
offers a road link into mid Wales". The Minister agreed and stated that a
review into these links is currently underway and the Government is due to
report back sometime in the spring.

Michael Fabricant now says: "It hardly makes sense for an extensive
motorway system to be constructed only to find that a few miles of narrow
road separates the M6 Toll motorway from the M54. The A460 must be upgraded
and the relevant motorway junctions constructed so that vehicles can travel
to and from Wales without encountering a bottleneck. The M6 Toll motorway
will stimulate industry along its length particularly because it provides
excellent links into other parts of England. Improvements to the A460 will
provide similar connections to the heartland of Wales".

Meanwhile, Michael continues to press the Government and the operators of
the M6 Toll road to ensure that local residents are given toll discounts.
"Local residents will receive a 90% discount from Ken Livingstone’s
congestion charging in London. This is also technically possible for local
users of the M6 Toll motorway".