Too much to toll-erate?

Visiting the in-laws is painful enough for any man. Driving 250 miles to visit the in-laws is even more so. But being charged an extra £4.70 for the privilege takes the biscuit. That’s the situation I was faced with during the Christmas break. Scuttling up the M6 with the pouring rain hammering down on to the windscreen, I cunningly thought to myself I could save some time by taking the prestigious toll road. So I did. It was pretty clear and I enjoyed the 10-mile or so stretch, being able to give the car “a little more gas” than usual. Then I got to the pay booths. £4.70? A little steep, I thought.

So, when I heard that prices were set to be increased again – and the next time I journey t’up North it will cost me the grand total of five English pounds – it left me wondering whether  I am going to get value for money? Should I take the hit to the wallet? Or should I avoid the toll road and enjoy the views of beautiful Birmingham in all its glory (note: sarcasm), whilst tolerating the heavy flow of traffic England’s second city generates.

Thankfully, I only have to make that horrendous journey twice a year. But what about freight and express companies? The price for their vehicles travelling on the toll road is set to increase by 6.38% – or from £9.40 to £10. Although 60p isn’t the end of the world as a one-off, if a company uses it 20 times a day, it soon adds up. What’s the alternative? Sending your driver up one of the busiest stretches of motorway in the country, taking substantially more time, and seeing a drop in efficiency? It’s a bit of a conundrum, really.

It came as no real surprise to see the Freight Transport Association (FTA) pour scorn on the increase – and rightfully so. The increase is almost double the rate of inflation, after all. “The inflation-busting increases being foisted on heavy goods vehicle (HGV) operators who use the M6 toll road is bad for business, other motorists and the environment,” the Association said, also citing that there has already been  “a pronounced drop in traffic volume along the chronically under-used toll road”.

Stephen Kelly, FTA’s head of policy for the Midlands, offered an interesting insight: “Extra toll costs are the last thing the commercial vehicle sector needs, but by effectively closing the gate to this vital corridor for so many hauliers we are in danger of not realising the economic and environmental benefits that this road was built for in the first place.

“It is, frankly, hard to swallow the argument that this extra revenue will be ploughed into major improvements – what is the point of investing in a road which nobody can afford to use?”

“Even before the latest hike, those comparatively few HGV drivers who did opt for the quicker and less congested M6 toll road did so as a last minute distress purchase based purely on how bad they thought the alternative journey would be. This is far from perfect for those companies that need to plan delivery routes efficiently and the businesses that depend on a reliable supply chain will also suffer.”

The decision to increase the price by double the inflation rate is a strange. No doubt the toll road will suffer as a result of over-pricing, and, more importantly, the express and freight industries will feel the effects – whether that’s in their efficiency levels, or in their wallets.

What do you think of the decision to increase toll road prices on the M6? Do you work in the freight or express industry? If so, how will it affect you? We want to hear your views, so comment below…