Annual losses for M6 Toll operator exceed £28m
The operator of the M6 Toll recorded a loss of £28.6 million despite an increase in use, official accounts have shown.
Midland Expressway's result for the 12 months to the end of 2014 were an improvement on the previous year, when its losses were £32.5m.
The company says in the accounts: "Traffic volumes have continued to benefit from roadworks in place on the competing section of the M6.
"The company's toll revenues benefitted significantly in 2014 as a result. The roadworks have continued into 2015 and the company has benefitted from traffic volumes in excess of those seen in 2014."
The figures show that in 2014 income from tolls increases 5.5 per cent to £69.54m, from £65.9m the year before.
Traffic use was up 5.2 per cent. There were 15,408,000 journeys in 2014 compared with 14,652,000 the year before.
There are calls for the government to fund making the M6 Toll free for lorries and possibly cars to use, in order to reduce the need to spend taxpayers' money on more road building.
The idea is part of the bid for devolved powers and funding for the West Midlands Combined Authority, which was leaked ahead of discussions with the government.
The 27-mile M6 Toll, from Cannock to Coleshill, is Britain's first pay to drive motorway.
It opened in 2003 and has always been privately funded, not costing the taxpayer a penny.
But it has come in for heavy criticism for its prices, £5.50 for a car and £11 for a lorry at peak times, which deter many drivers from using it and mean the M6 remains congested.
