Hauliers sign up for free M6 Toll passes
Up to 7,500 extra lorries will be using the M6 Toll next month as an experiment to give free use to drivers gets under way.
Members of the Road Haulage Association have signed up to get a free pass from Midland Expressway as part of the drive to get more people on the 27-mile toll road.
The month-long trial starts on Monday, and Association spokeswoman Kate Gibbs said the take up by those not currently using the road had been 'staggering.'
"Some of our members have said in the past that they wouldn't use the M6 Toll because it cost too much," she added.
Current midweek charges for the M6 Toll, which runs between Cannock and Coleshill, are £11 for HGVs and coaches and £5.50 for cars. There has not been a price increase since the start of March in 2012.
Midland Expressway director of tolling operations Pete Cleaver said: "All RHA members who registered for this offer before the closing date of May 17 have now been issued with their passes.
"Any members who attempt to use the M6 Toll without the official free pass will be required to pay the appropriate toll charge at the time of travel. It's simple: no pass - no free passage."
It emerged yesterday that Midland Expressway, which has the concession to run the toll road until 2054, has had talks with the Government about being released from a commitment to provide £100 million towards a planned link road from the M54 at Featherstone to junction T8 of the M6 Toll near Cheslyn Hay.
In return, the company, which is looking to reduce £1.03 billion in debts, has offered to allow free use of the toll road when the M6 is closed by a major accident.
Council chiefs in Cannock, which regularly gets congested when the main motorway is closed, have said they would like to meet with toll bosses to discuss the plans further.
December 9 marks the 10th anniversary of the road coming into operation.
John Lamb, of Birmingham Chamber, said they were not aware of the talks between the Toll road operators and the Transport Department, but: "We would welcome any move that would strengthen the finances of the M6 Toll."
The M6 Toll will have a number of closures for essential maintenance work over coming days.
Tonight, the northbound section between T4 at Weeford and T6 for Brownhills will be shut between 9pm and 6am.
The southbound section from T6 to T4 will be shut on July 2 and northbound from T6 to Junction 11A of the M6 on July 3, both from 9pm to 6am.
