Council wait on M6 Toll claim
Cannock Chase District Council has yet to claim compensation over the M6 Toll, possibly worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. Cannock Chase District Council has yet to claim compensation over the M6 Toll, possibly worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. Under law residents, landowners and local councils can apply to the Highways Agency for compensation if their property is within a certain distance from the motorway. The council is one of the closest authorities to the motorway. The value of the compensation is decided based on the devaluation of property and increased noise, vibration and fumes suffered by the owners. Housing authorities in Lichfield, Warwickshire and the West Midlands have put in a claim for compensation but Cannock Chase Council has not, despite the 27-mile motorway opening in December 2004. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Under law residents, landowners and local councils can apply to the Highways Agency for compensation if their property is within a certain distance from the motorway. The council is one of the closest authorities to the motorway.
The value of the compensation is decided based on the devaluation of property and increased noise, vibration and fumes suffered by the owners.
Housing authorities in Lichfield, Warwickshire and the West Midlands have put in a claim for compensation but Cannock Chase Council has not, despite the 27-mile motorway opening in December 2004.
Since that date over 8,000 claims have been made with homeowners receiving varying amounts of cash.
Although most of the council-owned houses in Cannock Chase are too far from the toll road the council has a large number of houses in the Norton Canes area where some villagers have been given as much as £10,000 for one house.
Claims for compensation can be submitted to the Highways Agency until December 2010 and the council yesterday confirmed it would look into the idea.
Norton Canes councillor John Beddows, who has himself accepted compensation, said the council had adopted a wait-and-see approach.
He said: "I have raised this with council officers and they have told me the reason for not making a claim is that they wanted to see what affect the M6Toll would have on people's lives.
"We are talking about a major windfall for the council and I have been told officers will be putting a claim in this year. They have also said any compensation will be used for the refurb of council houses."
Tom Hobbins, spokesman for Cannock Chase council, said: "No claim for compensation from the M6Toll has been made by the council but officers are going to look into it. The deadline for making a claim is December 2010 so the council has still got time."
