The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the rates set for the M6 toll road, which is due to open January 2004.

Geoff Dossetter, FTA's head of external affairs said: 'We were hoping for the fee to be around £5. However, the fee of £10 for the first 10 million journeys is disappointing. After this figure is reached the cost will rise to £11.' The toll road, which will run from junctions 4-11 should provide an alternative for commercial road users. However, Dossetter said: 'A lorry costs around £30 an hour to operate. Transport managers will be making routing decisions based on the cost of delays against the toll charge. If prices had been set cheaper there would have been greater interest in using the toll road.' Dossetter is also disappointed with the fee of £9 for using the road at night. He said: 'It is unlikely that roads will be congested through the night so I don't understand why the fee is so high.' Dossetter was dismayed that the government chose not to get involved in the scheme. He said: 'The UK has the fourth largest economy in the world but we have a decaying road system. This was the opportunity for the government to do something and they haven't.' Midlands Expressway, which built the road, has an agreement with the government that to alter the price when it wants providing it gives notice. Toll levels for cars are £2 rising to £3.