Motorists using the M6 motorway in the North West of England are now facing a newly established multi-agency taskforce aimed at tackling persistent traffic issues. Labour Party government MP Maya Ellis, representing Ribble Valley, has officially launched the Lancashire M6 Partnership in response to growing concerns from local residents about the chaos caused by frequent incidents on this crucial route.
Addressing Frequent Disruptions on a Key Transport Corridor
The M6, which runs through the country and is used daily by thousands of drivers from Birmingham and the West Midlands, has been plagued by disruptions that have become "a monthly, if not weekly, occurrence," according to Ms Ellis. The taskforce is specifically focused on addressing traffic problems on the M6 and nearby roads across Lancashire, where serious incidents often force closures, leading to widespread congestion and delays.
Bringing Together Agencies for Immediate and Long-Term Solutions
Ms Ellis explained that the initiative aims to "bring together all the different people who could potentially feed into solving some of the challenges, both in terms of immediate response, but also the long-term challenges." She emphasised the need for collaboration, stating, "We always seem to have issues on the M6 and then all the surrounding routes get blocked up when there's an accident, and it just felt like something that surely we can solve."
The MP added that the partnership is about identifying immediate actions while fostering cooperation among agencies to build a case for longer-term improvements. This approach comes amid recent incidents that have highlighted the urgency of the situation. In 2025, a serious collision between a van and a lorry on the motorway between junction 31a and junction 32 caused significant problems for drivers, followed by another closure the next week due to a lorry fire near junction 31, which led to further delays and congestion as commuters sought alternative routes.
Impact on Public Transport and Community Confidence
The traffic issues have not only affected private motorists but have also had a direct impact on public transport services. Thomas Calderbank from Preston Bus expressed deep concern about the long-term effects on "public confidence in our services," noting that motorway closures "have directly impacted our bus services, our drivers, and most importantly, our passengers." This underscores the broader community implications of the M6's reliability problems, making the taskforce's efforts critical for regional mobility and economic activity.
