The Freight Transport Association has hit out at the rise in tolls on the M6 toll road which are due to come into force on 1st March.
For commercial vehicles, the normal weekday toll will rise from £9.40 to £10. The FTA argues that this is double the rate of inflation and there has been a drop in traffic on the road which is already under-used.
Stephen Kelly, FTA’s head of policy for the Midlands, said: “Extra toll costs are the last thing the commercial vehicle sector needs, but by effectively closing the gate to this vital corridor for so many hauliers we are in danger of not realising the economic and environmental benefits that this road was built for in the first place.”
Midland Expressway chief Tom Fanning argued that : “The announced 2010 tolling programme will allow further investment in delivering an excellent driving experience for the reliable journey on which our customers depend. The M6 Toll remains excellent value for money to avoid the congested M6.
“We continue to offer all customers a five per cent discount per trip through the use of an electronic tag. With this, a £5.00 trip would cost only £4.75.”
