West Midlands business leaders back call for M54 link road

Midlands Connect, which has put together a report on the plans, said businesses want measures to alleviate the congestion that is reportedly costing them time, money and growth opportunities.

Plans for the link road were approved by the government in 2022 and would involve the construction of a new road, linking Junction 1 of the M54 to Junction 11 of the M6.

Currently, to connect between the motorways, long-haul vehicles must travel along the A460 through the villages of Featherstone and Shareshill, facing delays while also impacting the lives of local people.

The Department for Transport’s spending portfolio is currently under review, and local firms are urging the government to make these upgrades a priority.

The report concludes they believe that the implementation of the plans would greatly improve business operations along the M54.

Midlands Connect said it had spoken to local business organisations and firms that rely on local roads such as the A460, A449 and A5 to travel between the M54 and M6. 

It said the response included reports of frequent congestion on local roads, which impacts operations, stunting growth and losing them money.

The group said that local businesses consulted "unanimously backed the proposals", outlining that the route would "help them to grow by supporting access to new markets in the north, improve efficiency, and widening hiring pools".

Alexander Newport, Managing Director at Bradford Estates in Shropshire, said: "It would alleviate a lot of larger traffic off the A5. Through Weston-under-Lizard, there is a Grade I listed stately home, as well as sandstone embankments and retaining walls.

"Large HGV vehicles are not great for the stability of these structures. There’s a lot of damage in that section, particularly with the drains. Protecting an important heritage asset such as Weston Park is crucial."

Some businesses expressed concern about how the severe congestion was affecting residents, particularly along the A460, which passes through Featherstone, Hilton and Shareshill.

Alan Edwards, Head of Operations at RAF Museum, London and Midlands - Cosford, said: "I've seen the road rage of people trying to cut in and out, just to get one car space ahead. This needs to be accounted for as well. The village must be struggling with this daily.

"It's really difficult to pull out of side junctions because it's gridlocked, backing up onto the M54. Six People queue all the way back, then go down the slip road, around the roundabout, and block it by using the outer lane to cut in.”

The RAF Museum at Cosford, which receives 430,000 visitors a year, also detailed other impacts.

They reported that visitors were spending less time at the site due to heavy delays journeying to and from the site.

“A long journey reduces the time visitors spend at the museum. If it takes two hours to get there and another two hours to return, their time at the museum is condensed. We know that the longer visitors stay, the more they spend,” said Barry Smith, Director of Visitor and Commercial Development at RAF Museum Cosford.

They also felt that, from a staffing perspective, the museum was paying employees more than what would otherwise be necessary if journey times were reduced.

“We have a TOIL (Time Off In Lieau) policy for employees, when they travel between sites. If they are delayed in traffic, we must then allow them time off, which adds to the costs of running the museum," added Mr Edwards.

The report also highlights that numerous individuals interviewed felt disappointed that businesses along the M54 corridor have been unable to achieve their full potential.

It says with local congestion on unsuitable roads is costing them time and money, becoming a significant barrier to meaningful growth. 

Andy Whyle, Vice Chair at Telford Business Board said: “It's frustrating because Telford has significant potential for growth as a manufacturing base, which aligns with the government's goals. However, the growth we experience feels limited, despite knowing there's much more potential here.” 

Swati Mittal, Integrated Transport Lead from Midlands Connect said: “It’s great to see local firms overwhelmingly backing a link road for the M54 to the M6. It could create economic growth, help deal with pollution through shorter journeys and create more jobs."