A new road link between the M54 and both the M6 North and the Toll road is crucial to the economy of Shropshire, it was claimed today.

Councillor Eric Carter said he had been campaigning for the motorway link for four years but talks have come to nothing. Councillor Carter, shadow spokesman on regeneration and housing on Telford & Wrekin Council, said the need was even more critical now the i54 business park in Wolverhampton was developing.

He said with Jaguar Landrover moving on to the site at Pendeford the already log-jammed motorway network around the south of Birmingham would be put under even more strain.

Telford MP David Wright and Telford & Wrekin Council leader Kuldip Sahota last week urged the Government to resurrect plans to build the motorway link.

They said it could be paid for by private investment.

An M54 link with the M6 North and the toll road at junction 11a of the M6 was proposed five years ago but axed when the Coalition Government came to power.

Councillor Carter said: “I have been calling for a link between the M54 and the M6 north and Toll road since 2007 when I was a member of the council’s cabinet and on the city region group in Birmingham.

“It is something I believe is crucial and have taken it up at a high level previously but never seem to have got anywhere.

“It is even more critical to have such a link now because of the new i54 business park in Wolverhampton.

“That is just off the M54 and they will find, as we have done, just how difficult it is to get south of Birmingham with the existing roads network.

“If you come off the M54 onto the M6 currently at rush-hour everything is virtually at a standstill. I believe Wolverhampton should be pushing for a link as well because it is in their interests, as well as our own.”

A Highways Agency spokesman said: “The aim of the M54 to M6/M6 Toll Link Road review is to consider whether the scheme should be progressed in its current form by taking another look at the scheme appraisal and funding approach.”