THERE have been mixed reactions to the announcement of proposals outlining the future of the M6 corridor between the north west and the west midlands.

Consultants working for the Government have issued a series of outline recommendations, which focus on identifying transport needs over the next 30 years.

Some of the recommendations aimed at improving the situation on the M6 include:

l Widening to four lanes in each direction between junction 20 near Lymm and junction 11A at Walsall.

l Junction 20 at Lymm being made fully directional, with new slip roads from the M56 east and the M6 south.

l The introduction of tolling.

l General rail freight capacity enhancements.

Colin Daniels, chief executive of Warrington Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: "We welcome any moves to improve the motorway, including widening, but the problem is, when you look at somewhere like the M25, you simply get more traffic.

"We remain to be convinced by the need for tolls. Business already contributes in terms of taxation to the Government and business rates. This is already a lot of money and what are we going to get from this other than delays?

"What we have to try to do is get goods vehicles off the motorways and on to the railways."

Phil Johnson, Warrington Borough Council's assistant director of transportation and environmental design, said: "Widening is only one option being considered to ensure that access to the north west and Warrington is maintained for economic reasons.

"The widening of the M6 appears to be one of the best possible opportunities to develop sustainable transport on the motorway, alongside the development of the west coast main line railway."

Brendan O'Friel, chairman of the Rail Passengers' Committee for the North West, said: "The investments that are in the pipeline for the west coast main line in the next two years could make a considerable difference in the immediate future, whereas the proposals to widen the M6 will take years."

And though he is all in favour of getting freight off the roads, he does envisage some problems ahead.

"There is a lot of freight already on the west coast main line and anything that improves that is a good thing," Mr O'Friel said. "However, there can be a conflict between freight, which is very long and slow, and the demand for high-speed services."