Responding to the news that the M6 Toll Road will be charging £3 (three
pounds) for cars after the first few months of operation, Michael Fabricant
says: "I am disappointed that no discount is being made available for
locals wishing to use the M6 Toll Road.

"When I last met with Tom Fanning, the Managing Director of Midland
Expressway Limited (MEL) who will operate the new motorway, I discussed with
him and with other directors the disruption and misery being caused to the
daily lives of locals who have been subject to noise, dust, road closures
and other problems during the construction of the motorway. MEL officials
agreed that they should compensate local people for all they have had to put
up with. We discussed the possibility of toll discounts for local users and
I was told that the new automated toll booths will be technically capable of
doing this. I was further told that MEL are keen that locals should use the
new toll road and that financial incentives were a strong possibility.

"I am very disappointed to hear that this has not been followed up. I
believe that the goodwill of locals will be sorely tried as a consequence.
I am now asking MEL to think again about their pricing policy for local
users who live close to the M6 toll road. I hope that MEL will reconsider
their decision not to offer discounts or other incentives to local users.
It would be unfortunate if the opening of the motorway were marred by the
operators being accused of greed by those who live in close proximity of the
motorway.

"Despite this disappointment, I do welcome the opening of the M6 Toll. It
will stimulate the economy of the West Midlands as well as being of
strategic economic importance to the North West. I believe it will also
lead to better retail facilities and job opportunities being made available
in Lichfield and Burntwood".

Midland Expressway Limited – the company responsible for delivering and
operating the new M6 Toll Road – has announced the standard charge for car
drivers will be £3 at launch – with a £1 introductory discount for the first
10 million vehicles taking the price for cars down to just £2. Originally
known as the Birmingham Northern Relief Road, the M6 Toll Road is Britain’s
first tolled motorway and is scheduled to open by January 2004.