£300m M6 Toll link road is backed
Long-awaited plans for a £300 million link road northbound between the M54 and M6 Toll have been backed by councillors.
South Staffordshire Council bosses have thrown their weight behind a plan to create a new slip road to let cars go north from the M54 at junction 10A.
The Government's Highways Agency is behind the plan and offered three options for the scheme, which could begin to be built in 2018.
Two of the options would see a new road built between Featherstone and Hilton Park. But South Staffordshire Council has said the third option of directing traffic to the M6 would be the "least damaging in environmental and social terms".
Councillor Brian Edwards, leader of the Conservative-controlled authority, proposed the approval of the third route, seconded by Councillor Roy Wright, at a meeting of the full council last night.
Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Edwards said: "Our officers have given this council's position when further proposals come forward from Government. We would support the route which we believe would have far less of a detrimental impact on the community and existing buildings."
The decision on the district's preferred route will allow council chiefs to enter into talks with neighbouring councils about their collective response to eventual Government proposals.
South Staffordshire district chiefs said it had not promoted the scheme but Wolverhampton City and Telford and Wrekin councils believed the proposal would have "major transport and economic benefits".
The link road is proposed to ease congestion on the A460 and boost business links between Staffordshire, the Black Country and Shropshire.
South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson has called for Midland Expressway, the company operating the M6 Toll, to contribute a 'substantial amount of money' towards the link road.
Wolverhampton City Council chiefs have meanwhile expressed no preference on which route is chosen.
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