House of Commons to debate opening M6 Toll for free in times of emergency

MPs will discuss 'a wide range' of issues surrounding the usage of the 27-mile route in the coming weeks after a motion was put forward by Solihull's Conservative MP Julian Knight.

It comes after toll bosses Midland Expressway agreed a six month extension to Operation Freeway, a scheme that allows the road to be opened up in times of crisis on the instruction of the Transport Secretary.

Mr Knight told MPs in the Westminster Hall debate: "Our country's only toll motorway was originally designed as the Birmingham Relief Road, but it brings no relief.

"It does not serve the function to which it was originally intended.

"High prices have driven ordinary motorists from the road, creating a rich persons motorway, which is very under utilised, even in normal, everyday conditions."

There was widespread fury in February when the M6 northbound in Birmingham was closed for nearly 24 hours following a fatal accident.

The accident gridlocked Birmingham city centre throughout the day and the West Midlands motorway network was paralysed with drivers stranded in queues.

Repair workers trying to carry out emergency resurfacing work were trapped in the congestion further delaying the road's reopening for several hours.

The situation prompted a public inquiry chaired by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, during which Highways England admitted it should have declared a major incident following the problems.

Mr Knight added: "During times of crisis, when we need a relief road the most, the contingency plans in place might have been deliberately designed to never be used.

"Operation Freeway rests with civil servants, who are expected to make snap decisions involving huge sums of taxpayer's money.

"If the M6 Toll is to serve the best interests of the West Midlands and our economy, we must see fundamental reform of how it operates, especially during gridlock and crisis situations."

Toll bosses say rising usage figures prove the increasing popularity of the motorway, while they argue that the toll was never designed to take traffic from the M6.

Mr Knight said there were several options to consider, including paying the toll operator an annual fee allowing the toll to be opened at certain times, and giving the new West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) decision making powers to open the route.

The WMCA has proposed the nationalisation of the M6 Toll to improve the flow of traffic throughout the region.

It said free usage of the road would help improve the economic fortunes of the region – a key driver of the Midlands Engine plan.