Alliance against the BNRR Birmingham Friends of the Earth West Midlands Transport Campaign

West Midlands Friends of the Earth Press Releases: 8th May and 10th May 2003

Laughing all the way to the Tolls

Chris Crean of West Midlands Friends of the Earth said:

"This confirms that Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL) [3] have no interest in relieving congestion on the M6 but in fleecing the British population for their own fiscal gain. We were initially let down by the Tories who first drew up this outrageous concession, and then byJohn Prescott. He refused to listen to Friends of the Earth and the Alliance against the BNRR when we raised the issue of intervention on the tolling structure at the Public Inquiry and in a subsequent High Court challenge [4]. The great shame was that no one from the motoring lobby nor the business community were prepared to support us. They were more interested in yet another piece of tarmac over our countryside irrespective of how it would operate and what it would cost."

Chris Crean continued:

"If there is one thing upon which West Midlands Friends of the Earth and Mr Eagar can agree it is that there will never be another unregulated toll road in Britain. The problem is that we have ruined our countryside and won't see any benefits within the conurbation - where the problems are and where they will have to be solved."

Crying all the way to the Tolls

On the resignation of Dennis Eager as investment director of Macquarie Investment Group West Midlands Friends of the Earth reacted as follows.

Chris Crean of West Midlands Friends of the Earth said:

"Denis Eagar's resignation is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of those responsible. The trail goes way back to the 80's and Cecil Parkinson who drew up the concession, to those who have constantly lobbied for its construction and to John Prescott who refused to intervene on setting the tolls. This was pointed out to him by ourselves, hundreds of objectors and his independent inspector following the longest ever public inquiry into a road scheme ever in the UK."

Chris Crean continued:

"The main problem now is that we have destroyed 27 miles of our green belt and not got to grips with the real problem; our over dependence upon the private car within the conurbation."

Editor's Notes

[1] www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,6394496%255E643,00.html

[2] from the Macquarie Website www.macquarie.com.au/au/mig/assets/uk/midland_features.htm

[3] Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) is a company formed between Macquarie Bank of Australia and Autostrada SpA of Italy to build and operate the Birmingham Northern Relief Road now called the M6 Toll. This road currently under construction will by pass the West Midlands conurbation from junction 4 of the M6 in Warwickshire to Junction 11 of the M6 in Staffordshire. It will be a pay as you go toll boothed motorway.

[4] Inspector's Report p413, 10.4.1.9-10.4.1.12 and Decision Letter (28 July 1997) paras 61-64 in response. Paper copies available from 0121 643 9117.