The opening of the M6 toll road has stimulated the development of over four hectares of industrial land in south Staffordshire, creating an estimated 265 jobs. A Staffordshire University study found that the new link spurred extra development in areas within 5-10 minutes of the route compared to control areas. Dr Geoff Pugh, professor of applied economics, said the benefits were ‘a free gift’, because they were created by private sector investment. g.t.pugh@staffs.ac.uk