Alistair Darling - The Secretary of State for Transport - has just announced plans to build a new toll motorway to link Birmingham and Manchester. The new road is planned to run "broadly parallel" to the existing M6! To support this announcement the Government have published a consultation document that sets out the case for this new road, along with more details of how and where it could be built. As this phase of the project is described as "consultation" Alistair Darling is asking for views and comments, which should be returned by 21st September to the address at the bottom of this news item.

Barry Stamp is concerned the new toll motorway will devastate the environment around Stafford

The consultation document clearly states that the building of a new motorway would require more land than that required for widening the existing M6. It is suggested that instead of the 25 to 30 metres needed for widening the new road would need 35 to 40 metres. However this is not the whole story as the report suggests that if the road was built directly next to the existing M6 another 10 metres of land between the two roads would be needed. This distance could increase to up to 100 metres "where level difference, mound is required or a green feature e.g. existing vegetation or a new drainage feature such as a balancing lake or reed bed" is required. On the other hand this distance could increase even further if "significant obstacles" such as schools, housing, or motorway service areas are to be avoided.

One aspect the consultation does want feedback on is whether or not a new road "close, but not adjacent" to the existing M6 would better environmentally when compared to widening.

Barry Stamp has already publicly stated his opposition to this proposal. He would like to hear your views on this issue - please e-mail him on barry@barrystamp.org

The full document can be viewed at:-
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_transstrat/
documents/downloadable/dft_transstrat_029574.pdf

Your comments on this proposal should be sent to:-
Steve Berry
Road Policy Division
Department for Transport
Zone 3/01
Great Minister House
76 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DR

Tel: 020 7944 6097 FAX: 0207944 2195
email:- steve.berry@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Closing date for consultation is 21st October 2004