Pressure increasing on Transport Secretary to act over M6 at Preston

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Pressure increasing on Transport Secretary to act over M6 at Preston

Posted on - 27th May, 2025 - 7:00am | Author - Ed Walker | Posted in - Politics, Preston News, Roads, Transport [2][3][4][5][6]

Queues on the M6 at Junction 31 Pic: Chris August/Preston Traffic and Travel

A very common sight on the M6 at Preston Pic: Chris August/Preston Traffic and Travel

Frustrations over the state of the M6 at Preston sees pressure continue to build for action by the Secretary of Transport. Ribble Valley MP, Maya Ellis [7], who has a large chunk of Preston and some of South Ribble within her constituency, has secured a commitment from Heidi Alexander to meet and discuss the section of the M6 near the city. The Labour MP's intervention came after the disruption caused when a crash shut the M6 northbound on Thursday 15 May [8] and lead to widespread disruptions - and just last week the M6 southbound saw a lorry fire [9] which caused significant bottlenecks for around 10 hours around the city [10] following the fire on the motorway between Junction 31 and the M61 junction.

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Ms Ellis, speaking in the House of Commons, said: "Economic growth requires people to be able to get to work. This morning [15 May], yet another road traffic accident happened on the stretch of M6 motorway that goes through my constituency and yours, Mr Speaker. This has a hugely disruptive impact on the mainly small roads around it in my constituency.

Yet again, my residents in Longridge, Grimsargh and all the surrounding areas woke up to the prospect of another journey to work that takes two hours instead of 20 minutes, and that is becoming a monthly - if not weekly - occurrence. Will the Minister meet me to discuss what can be done?" Blog Preston has reported extensively on the M6 disruption [12] and in March published our special report [13] into whether anything could be done to ease congestion on the city's roads caused when the M6 sees problems.

Preston MP Sir Mark Hendrick has also raised the issue with Heidi Alexander [14] - he wrote to her following the 24-hours of delays back in March after a serious crash shut the motorway [15].

Recovery work on the M6 in March when a tanker crashed and spilled fuel across the road

Both MPs are supportive of a new River Ribble crossing [16] which would link the roads at Penwortham to the new Preston Western Distributor at Lea. Ms Ellis said: "This was a timely opportunity to get the issue directly on the government's agenda. Delays like this don't just cause inconvenience - they result in missed school pick-ups, cancelled hospital appointments, disrupted work shifts and hours lost from people's lives.

I know how frustrating it is for residents to deal with this again and again. "At the moment, if the M6 goes down, all the traffic is forced onto small country roads that simply aren't built to take that volume of cars. The long-mooted new crossing would provide an alternative route across the river and could make a real difference when there are future incidents."

Ms Ellis said she is also lobbying Lancashire County Council's director of highways, Matt Townsend, to push for action on the M6. She said: "Ultimately, the M6 is a national highway and the responsibility of central government - but the consequences of its failure fall heavily on local communities. "We need to get National Highways, local authorities, and ministers in the same room to work out a practical plan."

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References

^ Blog Preston (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ Posts by Ed Walker (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ Politics (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ Preston News (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ Roads (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ Transport (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ Maya Ellis (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ M6 northbound on Thursday 15 May (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ saw a lorry fire (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ significant bottlenecks for around 10 hours around the city (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ McDonald's drive-thru plan for Preston's Tickled Trout services just off the M6 (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ M6 disruption (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ published our special report (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ also raised the issue with Heidi Alexander (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ 24-hours of delays back in March after a serious crash shut the motorway (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ new River Ribble crossing (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ join our WhatsApp channel (whatsapp.com)
^ subscribe for our twice-a-week email newsletter (eepurl.com)
^ See the latest Preston news and headlines (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ comments powered by Disqus. (disqus.com)
^ Local BlogPreston photos (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ Advertise on BlogPreston (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ Advertise on BlogPreston (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ Advertise on BlogPreston (www.blogpreston.co.uk)
^ Ed Walker - Journalist, blogger and hyperlocal site founder (edwalkerjournalist.wordpress.com)
^ Preston based website design & development (3manfactory.co.uk)
^ Preston based hosting (clook.net)
^ IPSO link (www.ipso.co.uk)