Memorandum by the Institute of Chartered
Accountants in England and Wales in the West Midlands (RP 09)
M6 TOLL ROAD AND PROPOSED EXTENSION
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England
and Wales (ICAEW) is Europe's largest accountancy body with over
126,000 members in business, practice and the public sector. 8,500
of those members are in the West Midlands working in or advising
businesses of all sizes across every economic sector.
Transport infrastructure has a major bearing
on UK competitiveness. The Institute's regional policy-making
body, the West Midlands Regional Strategy Board, found that there
was a significant amount of interest from our members in the M6
Northern Relief Road (toll road) and its potential to relieve
congestion and assist their businesses. To examine this, a survey
was commissioned of members' views. We believe the results and
related observations may be of interest to the Committee as an
indication of business benefits from the toll road and its possible
extension.
GENERAL ISSUES
1. Transport is regarded by chartered accountants
as among the three most important issues affecting businesses
on a day-to-day basis (source: ICAEW Enterprise Survey 2003, UK
business Growth, Plans and Barriers).
2. Our members were particularly interested
in the toll because it was a major, innovative new development
that involved the private sector, because the West Midlands is
at the centre of the UK's communications network and because of
the problems of congestion on the M6.
3. The West Midlands ICAEW Regional Strategy
Board internet survey on the toll road was carried out in May
2004 and received 270 responses (only members living and working
in the West Midlands were asked to respond).
EFFECTIVENESS OF
THE TOLL
ROAD
4. The results of our survey demonstrate
that it is well used by those in business; 74% of respondents
reported they use the toll road.
5. The M6 toll road has been effective in
tackling congestion. Our members reported an average time saving
of 90 minutes per week from using the toll road. Those who used
the existing motorway network also reported a similar time saving.
6. Further evidence of the value to business
of the M6 toll road comes from the fact that 69% of respondents'
companies reimburse the toll charge while 52% of our respondents
stated that their employees used the toll road for business purposes.
IMPACT ON
TRAFFIC LEVELS
7. Whilst the toll road has reduced traffic
on the M6, the full effect of the road is difficult to gauge because
of the continuous road works on the motorway, which have been
at their worst in the summer of 2004.
8. At the southern and northern ends of
the toll road, there have been some unexpected additional delays
for motorists.
9. It is appreciated that this may not all
be a direct result of the creation of the toll road because of
other major road works in the area, particularly along the M42.
In this respect, despite the delays faced by motorists, the congestion
may well have been eased because of the toll road, rather than
exacerbated.
10. The usage of the toll road by lorries
is relatively low. While this is a great boon to car drivers,
it means the M6 motorway is still heavily used by heavy through
traffic, which many people expected to see being diverted onto
the toll road. This has proved disappointing.
IS A
NEW EXPRESSWAY
PREFERABLE TO
WIDENING THE
EXISTING ROAD?
Which is most cost efficient and environmentally
effective?
11. Our survey predated the announcement
by the DTI of the possibility of an extension from Junction 11a
to Junction 19. Nevertheless some clear observations can still
be drawn.
12. Our members accept the principle of
toll roads, provided they are fast, efficient and environmentally
sensitive. It is fair to assume that should it cut journey time
and be appropriately priced, our members and their businesses
would pay to use a toll road extension.
13. The existing toll road took more than
a decade to come about and improvements are needed urgently.
14. The creation of a new road alongside
the existing motorway would bring the added benefit of reducing
likely congestion motorists would face during the time construction
work is carried out if the existing M6 were to be widened. However,
this has to balanced by the congestion that businesses might have
to deal with if there are any extra planning delays resulting
from building a parallel road rather than widening the existing
road.
15. The ICAEW survey did not address issues
such as the cost-effectiveness of the toll road and impacts on
the environment. However, we clearly believe the true costs and
benefits, as well as the environmental impacts of the alternatives,
need to be fully assessed before a conclusion can be reached over
which option is preferable.
16. Utilising private sector funding, paid
for by a toll, clearly brings extra funding to transport. Should
this option be taken up, the public investment that would have
gone towards widening the existing motorway should pass to other
urgent transport priorities in the directly affected regions.
Where the freed-up public investment would go should be clearly
identified by the Government and the ensuing benefits from those
projects included in the cost-benefit analysis of the toll road
extension.
UNFORESEEN IMPACTS
17. The relative absence of lorries on the
new toll road, as previously mentioned, is clearly an unforeseen
impact.
16 September 2004
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