CONSULTANTS working on the M6 extensions in the north west are hoping to reopen the railway line between Northwich and Sandbach.

The transport study, published on Thursday last week, confirmed plans to widen the motorway between junctions 11a and 20 to four lanes in each direction.

Rail services between Birmingham and Manchester would need to be increased, junction 20 will be made fully directional with new slip roads from the M56 east and to the M6 in the south and tolls may be introduced between 2021 and 2031 to help ease congestion.

But the Council for the Protection of Rural England claimed that the study ignored the findings of the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment, which reported that the provision of new road space leads to extra traffic.

Lillian Burns, transport spokesman for the CPRE, said: "We already know we cannot build our way out of congestion - we have to put the funding into a high quality public transport system and achieve a significant modal shift.

"These proposals are simply a recipe for more people deserting the conurbations, commuting in and adding to overall congestion."

The 50-mile stretch of the M6 between junctions 11 and 20 is one of the busiest in the country, carrying up to 90,000 vehicles an hour in some parts.

The transport study focussed on identifying transport needs over the next 30 years as well as the environment, regeneration and the financial and economic impacts of transport.

Members of the public were asked for their views on the scheme at exhibitions across the region and via newsletters distributed to more than 40,000 homes.

Anne Frost, deputy director for the Local Government Division at the Government Office for the West Midlands, said: "The study group is now considering these outline proposals. The recommendations will be submitted to the Regional Planning Bodies shortly.

"We will then invite the Regional Planning Bodies to consider these recommendations as part of Regional Planning Guidance and their Regional Transport Strategy."

The study is one of 21 transport documents announced in July 1998 looking at all modes of travel across the country and consultants will submit the final report containing the full list of recommendations next month.

The recommended 30-year strategy, compiled by the joint consultancy of Ove Arup and Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick, would involve:

l M6 widening between junctions 11a and 20 to four lanes in each direction

l Reopening of Northwich to Sandbach line

l Parkway station near Knutsford services

l M6 junction 20 to be made fully directional with new slip roads from the M56 east and to the M6 in the south

l Additional rail services between Birmingham and Manchester

l Additional rail services between Trent Valley stations and the north west

l Construction of Stafford 'cut off' railway line and grade separation at Colwich and Norton bridge junctions

l General rail freight capacity enhancements

l 17 other public transport and 'making best use of' measures

l Tolling M6 to be introduced towards the later part of the study period, between 2021 and 2031

hhumphrys@guardiangrp.co.uk