M6 neighbours face gantries blight

Giant new gantries will loom over the homes of scores of Black Country families following work to open the hard shoulder of the M6 to motorists.

Contractors working on the stretch of the motorway between junctions 8 and 10A plan to install 22 stanchions and 12 information signs. Each one will be around 19ft high and some will be within a few yards of nearby properties. They will include one gantry to be put up next to Murdock Way, Beechdale, and another next to Woodside Way, New Invention.

It comes after angry residents handed in a petition of more than 300 names to traffic to highways bosses protesting at opening the hard shoulder.

Carillion have been employed by the Highways Agency to cut down rows of trees separating residents, including those in Murdock Way, from the busy stretch of the M6.

Willenhall Councillor Ian Shires, whose home in Lynwood Close, New Invention, is among those affected, said he feared the new gantries would create a major eyesore for residents – with supporting stanchions directly behind some householders' back gardens.

"The sighting of a number of laybys and gantries, particularly those between junctions 10 and 10A, are providing the Highways Agency with some very challenging issues due to the closeness of residential property," he said.

"The change in nature of the motorway as it moves from running through a cutting to running on an embankment as it goes north out of the West Midlands and into Staffordshire is also an issue.

"It is clear that whatever the outcome, those living by the M6 will suffer as a direct result of the total failure of the M6 Toll."

Richard McCrann, Highways Agency spokesman, said: "The agency is extending active traffic management – which involves hard shoulder running. This follows a successful trial of the system since 2006 on the M42 between junction 3A and junction 7.

"A gantry will be installed adjacent to Murdock Way, and a further gantry installed adjacent to Woodside Way.

"This work will take place within the existing motorway boundaries."