M6 Toll road plan: 'Make it free to boost region'

Midland Expressway Limited, which owns the M6 Toll said it had not been consulted on a plan to remove charges.

A plan to make the M6 Toll road free has been revealed in a draft proposal for the West Midlands Combined Authority.

The document asked the government for £15m a year to cover the cost of tolls in a bid to reduce congestion.

The combined authority refused to comment on the confidential wish list for devolved powers seen by the BBC.

The owner of the M6 Toll, Midland Expressway Limited, said it had not been consulted on the plan.

The paper outlined which powers the authority sought from a devolution deal and what benefits it would deliver in return.

It said: "Make the M6 Toll free at the point of use, generating economic benefits of at least £1.2bn."

Increase usage

It is understood the document was a first draft sent to government at the start of the month and negotiations continue.

Andy Pearson, chief executive of Midland Expressway Limited said he was already in talks with the freight industry and hauliers about increasing usage of the M6 Toll.

He added: "We would be delighted to enter into discussion with the West Midlands Combined Authority or individual metropolitan authorities, LEPs (local enterprise partnerships) or councils to discuss any credible proposals to increase use of the M6 Toll."

A West Midlands "powerhouse" would combine Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton local authorities.

Earlier this month Tamworth and Nuneaton and Bedworth councils voted to sign up to the scheme.

The paper set out other plans including one for a directly-elected mayor with the power to set the council tax and to levy a supplementary business rate.

Also on the devolution wish list was control over air passenger duty for Birmingham Airport.

The document includes a list of things to discuss with the government such as the future governance of police, fire and rescue services across the area and reforms to the criminal justice system.