By Jo Best, 23 May 2007 12:15
NEWS
The government is pushing ahead with plans to introduce pay-as-you-drive road-pricing across the country, after announcing a draft bill to overhaul the UK's transport system.
Under the Local Transport Bill, local authorities will be given powers to develop their own road-pricing schemes on the proviso that any funds raised are spent on the local transport network.
The government has now put out two notices in the Official Journal of the European Union inviting interested companies to bid to be part of framework agreements to run different elements of a road-pricing 'demonstrations' project - local pilots of the road-pricing schemes.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Secretary of State for Transport, Douglas Alexander, said the "demonstrations [will] help us understand how time, distance and place road-pricing could function so that it safeguards people's privacy, and operates reliably and accurately". He added: "We recognise that people are concerned about the possible impact road-pricing might have on their privacy, and they want to be reassured that any road-pricing schemes would be fair."
Ten local councils are now already working on proposals for their own local road-pricing schemes. The government believes proposals will be submitted in the summer, with trials beginning in spring 2008 - paving the way for rollouts in four to five years' time.
Alexander added: "No decisions have been taken on whether to move towards a national road-pricing scheme. It is only on the evidence from local schemes that any such decision could be taken and the government has made clear that there would need to be a full public debate. The demonstrations will help to inform that debate by building our understanding of how road-pricing systems and technologies might be designed and operated."
The Conservatives, however, have labelled the scheme "a Trojan horse" that will eventually lead to a nationwide system of tolls.
Shadow transport secretary, Chris Grayling, said in a statement: "It's now clear that Gordon Brown is as committed to the government's road-pricing plans as Tony Blair has been, despite the petition signed by 1.8 million people and official forecasts that such a scheme could cost up to £60bn."
Comments
There are 10 comments. Join the discussion
1. Marcus
Democracy? What democracy? The only recourse the people of this country have is the sanction of their Vote. These idiots MUST be voted out. Any local council contemplating such a move must be assured that the councillors will lose their seats at the next election.
They say that the money must be spent on improving local roads. this is EXTRA money ripped off from you and me. Why don't we cut out this stupidity and spend existing ROAD TAX on improvements. This is 1984 double speak. Stop it at all costs.
2. Jeremy Wickins
In principle, this is fine, but the legislation should set a minimum standard for public transport provision, including provision for trams or trolley buses wherever the population is above a certain amount in the area covered by road charging, and subsidised fares on all forms of public transport.
Also, facility to bring public transport back into the public domain in areas where road charging is introduced should be part of the legislation - it makes no sense to have a council getting money on the proviso that it is spent on public transport if private companies can mess up the whole thing based on share-holders' "rights" (which don't really exist).
3. Chris Stevens
So now there will be a mess of different systems for the various locations. Expensive to run tax collection systems.
These road management numbskulls just don't get it do they? As the real price of fuel rises people will use their cars less. The suits are planning for something that won't happen.
4. Patrick Archibald
Never mind costing £60 billion, I reckon such a scheme will cost them an election.
5. Mark Hosey
For those of you living in those areas whose authorities have agreed to be guinea pigs for these crazy schemes: start counting the traffic that passes by your window now and catagorise it by weight (car, van, lorry, artic).
I believe the amount of traffic on low cost routes, residential roads that can be used as short cuts and rural roads will rise alarmingly when any tolls are introduced. You will be well advised to arm yourselves with relevant data now.
6. Radical Meldrew
I guess central government wimped out on implementing another unpopular policy. What we are now faced with effectively amounts to stealth taxation by post-code. Instead of a cohesive national strategy there will be many local government variations which will no doubt present inconsistency and incompatibility problems for future development into a national scheme.
In other words - a shambles!
7. Steve Watkins
I, like another 1.8 million people, 'signed' a petition at the number 10 website to protest against this.
It now appears that this was a cynical sop to give an impression of democracy.
The unfortunate thing is that this vile government has expanded the bloated, incompetent and iunefficient public sector so much that in many parts of the country more people live off the taxpayer, either on benefits, or because they 'work' in the millions of worthless non-jobs and taxpayer financed quangos than actually work and pay texes in the real world doing real jobs for real people.
Consequently, the number of votes that Bliar and colleagues can garner is inflated by those working, supposedly for the Governemt itself. Eighteenth Century politicians engaged in 'treating' to ensure votes for themselves, but they had the honesty to use their own money. This disgusting bunch of evil hypocrites can't even do that.
8. anonymous
anyone remember the poll tax
stupid
ill thougth out
universally unpopular
poorly managed
unpractica
failed to address the underlying issues
sound familiar?
9. anonymous
Oh dear Oh dear,
All those driver freaks ranting about loss of liberty. The same ones who feel they should be allowed to drive as fast as they please without speed checks?
If you can afford a car , or are given one to drive , then you should be persuaded to use it as sparingly as possible.
10. Peter Tombleson
Look forward to fewer shops in the high street and a diminished retail sector as more and more people switch to buying and selling on the internet to avoid parking charges, road pricing, excessive rates and expensive and unpleasant public transport.
No one will stop to eat a meal in a cafe
Guess what - the economy will suffer. Will they blame the measures they now propose? You bet they won't.
Will ANY private sector remain?