6 July 2016
Campaign for Better Transport has responded to Highways England plan to turn sections of the M6 into a smart motorway.
Highways England want to make the M6 between junction 2 (Coventry) and junction 4 (Coleshill) into a smart motorway and between junction 13 (Stafford) and junction 15 (Newcastle under Lyme) into an all lane running smart motorway.
Bridget Fox, Sustainable Transport Campaigner said:
"Just last week MPs on the House of Commons Transport Select Committee were crystal clear in advising that motorway hard shoulders should not be used as permanent driving lanes. So in these circumstances we are shocked that Highways England is now pressing ahead with doing just that on the M6.
"Travellers deserve better than this. With improvements to West Coast Main Line passenger and freight services on the way, including investment at Norton Bridge, there are positive alternatives to encouraging more traffic onto the motorway."
Ends
For further information please contact:
Richard Watkins, Press Officer, at Campaign for Better Transport on 020 7566 6494 or richard.watkins@bettertransport.org.uk
Notes
- Read more about Highways England M6 smart motorway plans here - Public exhibitions for M6 smart motorway upgrade near Coventry and Public exhibitions for M6 smart motorway upgrade in Staffordshire
- Read the House of Commons Transport Select Committee report here – Motorway hard shoulders shouldn’t be used as permanent driving lanes
- Read a Campaign for Better Transport blog on hard shoulder use here - We're calling for a moratorium on All Lane Running
- Campaign for Better Transport is the UK's leading authority on sustainable transport. We champion transport solutions that improve people's lives and reduce environmental damage. Our campaigns push innovative, practical policies at local and national levels. Campaign for Better Transport Charitable Trust is a registered charity (1101929).