Chancellor urged to make the M6 toll free to use

There have been previous calls to re-assess charging for the route, amid clams it has failed to relieve the traffic problems. Credit: PA

Labour's candidate for West Midlands Mayor, Siôn Simon, is urging the Chancellor Phillip Hammond to secure a government deal to allow free use of the M6 toll.

He was responding to reports on new government investment to tackle road congestion in Wednesday's Autumn statement, and said:

“For too long, the West Midlands' interests have been put second to London's. Their interests are not ours.

Next May's election is an opportunity to take back control of our own affairs. And that means doing something about the terrible gridlock that causes misery in our daily lives and costs the region billions.

"That's why I'm campaigning for a government-backed deal to take regional control of the M6 toll and make it free. Taking the pressure off the roads we use inside the West Midlands.

We can't leave it to London to sort out our problems. But with new powers and a West Midlands Mayor, getting things done, we can take back control of our own place and get the West Midlands moving again."

There have been previous calls to re-assess charging for the route, amid claims it has failed to relieve the traffic problems across the central motorways network.