Motorway Service Area on the M42

MSA Dismissed - 23rd January 2009

In October 2004, the Secretary of State announced a re-opening the public inquiry into the Motorway Service Areas proposed along the M42. After the last inquiry, the Secretary of State was minded to approve the new MSA but then wrote to all interested parties asking for their views in the light of the proposed expansion of Birmingham Airport and concerns about the environmental assessment of the site. I had raised these issues in the past and so I welcomed the Secretary of State listening to my constituents' concerns.

Now, after over 4 years, the Government have at long last seen sense. The communities that would have been worst affected by the decision have had to live with major uncertainly for an unacceptably long amount of time.

I am thrilled for all communities, especially the community of Catherine de Barnes which would have been worst affected. It is a real tribute to local campaigners that they have seen off these unwelcome proposals to consume greenbelt within the Meriden Gap.

MSA history

I always opposed any proposal for a motorway service area in the heart of the vulnerable Meriden gap. The MSA was proposed near Catherine-de-Barnes on the M42. This is one of the busiest stretches of the motorway, close to the NEC, Birmingham Airport and International exit. An MSA at this point of the M42 seemed to me a dangerous proposition and would mean further erosion of precious greenbelt land. Having fought off the proposal in 2001, the Highways Agency then accepted the developers' environmental assessment and the proposal went back to the Secretary of State for a final decision. It is hard to imagine a less suitable position for a motorway service area at one of the busiest stretches of the M42 near the airport exit.

In addition, plans for a Motorway Service Area (MSA) at Junction 4 of the M42 had resurfaced. Similar proposals were first put forward in 1999 and rejected by the Council. The case then went to appeal and a public inquiry was held to consider the proposal, along with applications for MSAs at the Solihull motorway exit (junction 5) and at Catherine-de-Barnes. The Planning Inspector recommended that the appeal for MSAs at Junctions 4 and 5 be dismissed, advice which the Government heeded. I find it hard to see how earlier objections were ever overcome. The reasons for the earlier refusal of the Junction 4 were primarily connected with the inappropriateness of such a development in the Green Belt and the impact on the landscape such a development would have. Nothing changed on this front and the site proposed teh second time round was in fact larger than the original plan. In terms of traffic on the motorway, this Motorway Service Area could only connect with the motorway southbound so vehicles would be coming off at Junction 4 adding significantly to the traffic burden at that roundabout which is already under pressure from weight of traffic to Blythe Valley Business Park.

Motorway Service Area on the M42

Menu