Pulped Fiction
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/3330245.stm
Last Updated: Thursday, 18 December, 2003, 10:33 GMT
M6 Toll built with pulped fiction
Old copies of Mills and Boon romantic novels are being used to help prolong the life of the UK's newest road.
In what is an unexpected twist, it has emerged that about 2,500,000 of the books were acquired during the construction of the M6 Toll.
The novels were pulped and used in the preparation of the top layer of the West Midlands motorway, according to building materials suppliers Tarmac.
The pulp helps hold the Tarmac and asphalt in place.
Richard Beal, the company's project manager for the M6 Toll, said the books' absorbent qualities made them a vital ingredient in the construction of the country's first pay-as-you-go motorway.
He said: "People may think they know everything they want to know about the M6 Toll, but it never ceases to amaze them when we talk about the secret ingredient that prolongs the life of this new road.
"We use copies of Mills and Boon books, not as a statement about what we think of the writing, but because it is so absorbent.
"They may be slushy to many people, but it's their 'no-slushiness' that is their attraction as far as we are concerned.
"This means that the road will last longer before we have to repair it, which is good news for the paying customers using it to escape congestion on the M6."
He said for every mile of motorway approximately 45,000 books were needed.
Tarmac spokesman Brian Kent said the company was not suggesting there was anything wrong with Mills and Boon novels.
"We want to reassure Mills and Boon readers that we're not just picking on their favourite books - other books are down there too."
Last Updated: Thursday, 18 December, 2003, 10:33 GMT
M6 Toll built with pulped fiction
Old copies of Mills and Boon romantic novels are being used to help prolong the life of the UK's newest road.
In what is an unexpected twist, it has emerged that about 2,500,000 of the books were acquired during the construction of the M6 Toll.
The novels were pulped and used in the preparation of the top layer of the West Midlands motorway, according to building materials suppliers Tarmac.
The pulp helps hold the Tarmac and asphalt in place.
Richard Beal, the company's project manager for the M6 Toll, said the books' absorbent qualities made them a vital ingredient in the construction of the country's first pay-as-you-go motorway.
He said: "People may think they know everything they want to know about the M6 Toll, but it never ceases to amaze them when we talk about the secret ingredient that prolongs the life of this new road.
"We use copies of Mills and Boon books, not as a statement about what we think of the writing, but because it is so absorbent.
"They may be slushy to many people, but it's their 'no-slushiness' that is their attraction as far as we are concerned.
"This means that the road will last longer before we have to repair it, which is good news for the paying customers using it to escape congestion on the M6."
He said for every mile of motorway approximately 45,000 books were needed.
Tarmac spokesman Brian Kent said the company was not suggesting there was anything wrong with Mills and Boon novels.
"We want to reassure Mills and Boon readers that we're not just picking on their favourite books - other books are down there too."
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