M54-M6 link road 'could generate more than £500m' for UK economy
He said it could also cut journey times for commuters, remove about 19,000 drivers from nearby roads and improve access to jobs."This important link is about making life easier for working people, attracting new investment, and ensuring Telford remains a key player in the Midlands economy," the Labour leader said."Seeing this connection move forward is a significant and welcome step for our community."He told BBC Radio Shropshire that, while the construction phase would inconvenience people, it would "make life a lot easier" once it was finished.
West Midlands mayor Richard Parker said it would provide faster journeys and improve connections for "thousands of people and businesses" in the Black Country and surrounding areas."This will transform the region, drive growth and opportunity in every community - and help us deliver better journeys for everyone," he said.Sir Gavin Williamson, Conservative MP for Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge, said it would make a "real difference" to communities."Residents in Featherstone, Hilton, and Shareshill have had to deal with increased congestion in their villages and difficulties with access," he added.
While he also welcomed the news, the Wrekin's Tory MP Mark Pritchard was concerned it might encourage development on east Shropshire's green space."It cannot mean a new road comes at any cost to local villages and communities," he told BBC Radio Shropshire."The downside potentially is this creeping urbanisation – light industrialisation – of the east of our county."The Conservative representative said Shropshire was a "growing county" but it needed to grow in a way so as to protect its green spaces.
The link road was announced by the Department for Transport following a £92bn settlement from the government's Spending Review.The proposed scheme would help relieve congestion on the A460, A449, and A5, ministers said."These vital investments are long overdue, will transform local communities and improve living standards across the country," said Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Rules aim to make Stoke-on-Trent's taxis safer and greener
Stricter rules aimed at making taxis in Stoke-on-Trent safer and greener have been given the green the changes made by the city council, drivers would have to undergo enhanced background checks, install CCTV cameras and notify the authority within 48 hours if they are questioned or arrested by rules would also mean only electric and hybrid taxis will be licensed by the council after April 2031, with petrol and diesel vehicles gradually phased out before firm owners and drivers were consulted on the planned changes and the majority were in favour, according to the council. The changes were approved by its cabinet on Tuesday and Councillor Chris Robinson said the measures were a "vital step in community safety"."We don't want people to just get from A to B, we want passengers to feel safe and comfortable on their journey," he stated."It is fundamental the taxi firms play a part in building a safer and greener city for all, with more than 1,760 city council licensed vehicles now operating in the city each year." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
'Continents move faster than Stafford's roadworks'
A town is experiencing a "massive effect" from long-term disruption caused by multiple roadworks, say residents and has been taking place on a number of main roads in Stafford at various times over the last few years, including Lichfield Road, the A34, A513 Beaconside, A449 Wolverhampton Road, Doxey Road and Chell owners said the closures and temporary traffic lights, plus the congestion they caused, have led to a sharp decrease in footfall across the County Council said it would do everything it could to change the way roadworks were planned in order to minimise disruption. Former business owner Andy Keen told BBC Midlands Today that, while he understood roadworks had to take place, they needed to be done "faster", as they were causing people to shop elsewhere."Continents are moving faster than the roadworks are happening," he said. "The pace they're taking place at is just too slow. It needs to happen far, far quicker." Jill Atkinson, owner of Queensville Stores, based in Queensville, said the roadworks were currently the worst they have ever been in her 46 years at the shop."It's had a massive effect since last September," she said. "We're just a small business and it's been really, really hard."It's affecting us, our staff, our livelihood – absolutely everything, really. It's just gone from bad to worse."Mrs Atkinson said people often did not realise they could still visit the shop while the roadworks were in place, and they had to throw more out-of-date produce away due to the fall in customers."We've worked long and hard for many years, and it's like it's being taken away," she added. Councillor Peter Mason, cabinet member for highways at the council, said the authority would refrain from adding any new non-essential works in heavily disrupted areas for the next three months."It is very clear to me that we need to do more to improve the condition of Staffordshire's roads," he said."This does come with inevitable disruption, which is to be expected, but we must do everything we can to minimise this."This includes changing how we programme these works so not so many are done at the same time." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
Will Rachel Reeves' sums ever add up?
👉Listen to Politics at Sam and Anne's on your podcast app👈 It is arguably the number one issue facing the government - how do they get the economy thriving and growing again. Sam and Anne are joined by Sky News' Economics and Data Editor, Ed Conway, to weigh up the options on the table for Rachel Reeves. Ahead of a crucial budget in the autumn, the trio address: How will the chancellor fill the black hole in the public finances? Are tax changes on the horizon? Will there be more nationalisation? Plus, there is still some time to predict if Rachel Reeves will remain in Number 11 Downing Street, after a tumultuous year in office. Sam and Anne are getting a lie-in over summer recess, but they'll be in your feed with special episodes every Monday before normal services resumes on 1 September.
