The Freight Transport Association has condemned plans to increase the M6 Toll rates from the new year.

From January 1, the daytime rate for HGVs using the M6 Toll road will increase by over 14 per cent to £8.00. The rate for cars will also rise by 14 per cent to £4.00.

FTA’s head of policy for the Midlands, Wales & South West Stephen Kelly said: “Ever since the M6 Toll opened, lorry traffic has been conspicuous by its absence. This dearth of commercial traffic can be directly attributed to the toll pricing structure. The uplift in the toll rate for vans and trucks reinforces the existing position whereby these vehicles are priced off the M6 Toll and on to the M6.

He said it was frustrating to see the M6 Toll, which forms part of the UK’s network of Trade Routes, being under-utilised, whilst the M6 to the north of Birmingham is “solid with traffic for long periods of the day”. The rise in the toll rate for cars will make this congested part of the road network even worse as motorists divert onto the M6 to avoid paying the charge, he claimed.

“FTA was strongly supportive of the construction of the M6 Toll and it is therefore very disappointing that the road has failed to attract substantial lorry traffic. M6 Toll should be a route of choice for industry, not just a premium rate congestion bypass for wealthy motorists.”

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