Express & Star comment: Is M6 Toll on road to nowhere?

Things were looking up for the route after its new bosses appeared to warm to the idea of working with the region's super council to increase usage.

The thing that is badly needed – as has been the case since it opened 15 years ago – is for more traffic to stop using the congested M6 and use the toll road instead.

Chief among the reasons why this has proved problematic is that many motorists are unwilling to pay the price of using the 27-mile route.

This is particularly true for long distance lorry drivers, who for the last year have been expected to part with £11 in toll fees for the privilege of using it.

So what do Midlands Express Ltd do?

They put up prices for the second time in a year.

It is difficult to see what on earth they hope to achieve with this move.

It has unsurprisingly come in for widespread criticism, with some reigniting calls for the toll to be nationalised.

There is no surer way to lose customers than to increase prices while offering exactly the same service.

The toll operators appear to believe the new prices will help build on the 18 million journeys that took place on the route last year.

They have also introduced a trial run of a capped fee for unlimited use of the road, although this is only available to a small number of users.

There is slim chance of congestion being reduced on the M6 or indeed any of the nearby A-roads if prices keep increasing on the M6 Toll.

If anything, gridlock on the M6 is likely to get even worse – if that is possible. This will have the undesirable knock-on effect of worsening pollution and damaging the environment.

Toll bosses need to sit down with the region's Mayor and combined authority leaders and talk this through.

Across the region bold plans are afoot to improve our transport systems, including trams, rail and road.

It would be a real shame if one of the major players decided not to play its part.