Government bid for more toll roads

August 06, 2006

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TRANSPORT Secretary Douglas Alexander is seeking powers to impose toll roads across the UK, it has been reported.

In a leaked letter obtained by the Sunday Times, Mr Alexander spells out plans for a bill to be introduced next year to pave the way for the widespread use of tolls to combat road congestion.

At present, it is up to local authorities to propose road-charging schemes - such as London's congestion charge - for approval by ministers.

But in his letter, Mr Alexander argues that he should be able to set national standards and prices to prevent the confusion that would result if different cities adopted differing schemes.

Unlike the flat-rate daily charge imposed by Mayor Ken Livingstone in London, Mr Alexander's programme would see motorists charged on a pay-as-you-go basis, with hi-tech black boxes in their cars recording how far they have driven on stretches of toll road.

The letter to Leader of the Commons Jack Straw, dated July 20, makes clear that Mr Alexander is considering imposing charges not just in city centres but also on trunk roads.

"The main purpose of the bill would be to support our efforts to cut congestion and improve public transport, particularly in the major cities outside London," he wrote.

Arrangements

"It would also help to pave the way for a national road-pricing scheme in the medium to long term.

"I would propose reforming the current arrangements for approving local road-pricing schemes, providing better targeted powers to ensure that schemes are consistent with a national framework and are inter-operable, and ensuring an appropriate framework governing the setting of prices and the use of resources.

"Current legislation offers very limited powers for pricing on the trunk road network outside of the area of a local scheme.

"We are considering pilots on the trunk road network as an important stage towards national road-pricing."

Alexander has already said that road-pricing is something "we need to consider as a country", and pledged é10 million to support the development of the necessary technology.

Mr Straw is currently drawing up a list of bills to be included in this autumn's Queen's Speech, which will spell out the legislative programme for what may be Tony Blair's final year in office.

In a separate letter obtained by the Sunday Times, Mr Straw reportedly outlines 13 bills expected to be included in the Speech.

These include legislation on criminal justice; consumer protection; digital switch-over; criminal trials; free bus travel for pensioners; further education; new powers for the London Mayor; health and social security; House of Lords reform; local government; organised crime; pensions; and Child Support Agency reform.

Should we have more toll roads? Have your say.

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Showing comments 1 to 16 and replies | View All

Driver, Swinton (06/08/2006 at 11:11)

Are they not getting enough money out of us now, without charging tolls on roads we have already paid for in our taxes? As for the black box scheme, I'm not too happy about having a spy under the bonnet, it's bad enough already that some CCTV cameras have number plate recognition technology, and can track our movements at all times. We may not need to fear anything if we haven't done anything wrong, but how long will it be before such technology is used to curtail more of our much cherished freedoms in the name of "national security"?

steve, salford (06/08/2006 at 12:48)

This country is getting worse every year.All this goverment wants is your money.Toll roads,speeding fines,parking tickets and on the spot fines.Their number one objective your hard earned money.No wonder people are moving abroad.

Chris, Manchester (06/08/2006 at 15:30)

No way should we have nationwide road tolls, trouble is the government have realised that nationwide is the only way it will work as if Manchester had a road-toll 'zone' we'd all just avoid Manchester and go elsewhere.

This idea, if it actually happens, will signal the beginning of the end of what is left of the UK economy and a mass emigration of UK taxpayers. Well done New Labour!

NAAT, National (06/08/2006 at 17:35)

Drivers should tell the politicians that they don't want more taxes which will be wasted on bureaucracy and black boxes, they want
less taxes and a better road system

Sue, Salford (06/08/2006 at 17:44)

This would only work if two importants things were incorporated into the planning of toll roads.

1. All Vehicle Excise Licence fees were abolished.

2. There was a reduction for the workforce who is forced to endure the school run for much of the year.

Being behind 4x4s and people carriers, each with one small child onboard, is no fun, especially when 'mummy' doesn't appear to be in control of the vehicle!

PW, Manchester (06/08/2006 at 19:16)

And silly old me thought I was already paying to use the roads. Via my road fund licence, about 66% of my petrol in duty and VAT, tax paid on vehicle purchase, etc etc. The government and local authorities are cynically disrupting the traffic low, so we'll all agree with them that perhaps a toll will cure the problem. I don't trust them one inch.

ron day, birkenhead (06/08/2006 at 20:59)

can anyone please tell me what happens to all the money raised by the road fund licience,[tv money goes to the BBC].
thi greed to bleed the overtaxed motorist is unfair and unjust.

ron birkenhead.

Jake Long, Manchester, City Center (07/08/2006 at 13:51)

Quite simply: over my dead body!

Anthony, Accrington,Lancashire (07/08/2006 at 15:48)

And I hope people will REFUSE to pay it and go to court!!!

Dave.M, Warrington (07/08/2006 at 16:01)

Once again this government has come up with a method of alienating even more overtaxed people. If Tony Blair and his cronies want us to hand over our hard earned wages and he gives us back pocket money why doesn't he say so. We are well on the way to becoming not a nation of shopkeepers but a nation of taxpayers who cannot afford to buy even gas and electricity while the politicians wallow in their own importance. The people of this country voted them in and they can also vote them out. That is if they don't change the rules so people who don't gree with them don't get a vote and those who do get a knighthood.

Richard Everard, Hale Barns, Cheshire (07/08/2006 at 18:26)

As an executive worker & employer who already contributes huge amounts of income tax to this countries coffers I believe the following solutions to the present transport situation would make this argument for toll roads redundant. Petrol rationing should be brought in forthwith for non-workers & council estates residents who can surely rely on public transport & bicycles for their employment & recreational needs thus reducing non-essential traffic. Surely their need for private transport is not as critical to this countries prosperity as my own & similar executives whom to lose their petrol supplies or waste our time paying tolls would be a serious national loss in keeping the wheels of commerce & industry turning.
Their petrol could be rationed or a surcharge of 2.00 per gallon added for example to people who drive motor vehicles of 3 years old or older, on certain working class area postcodes where the majority of vehicles are neither M.O.T'd, Road Taxed or Insured or earn say under 100,000. All of which must be proved with the relevant documentation to an emergency authority installed by the government in order to keep this countries elite work force on the move should any future calls for tolls, fuel shortages or petrol blockades take place, thus enabling the country as a whole to ride out any threats of toll roads, traffic congestion or to our fuel supplies together.
If we took all these unroadworthy vehicles from these council estates & poorer area's where they run around needlessly with no sense of purpose in their jalopies it would also free up their time to be more self sufficient by for example turning their unkempt gardens on these estates into vegetable plots to feed themselves, their offspring & also to help to justify their existence on these estates. Instead of driving down to the freezer & tinned sections of supermarkets which in turn forces more H.G.V's onto the roads to pollute & disrupt executive traffic in our cities by using more valuable fuel & road space just to replenish the freezers for these already mainly obese people to gorge on.

Sheila Oliver, Stockport (07/08/2006 at 21:35)

We must have road user charging. We can't keep on covering our countryside with new roads, which then just fill up with even more traffic.

John, Boardman Fold Rd, Alkrington (08/08/2006 at 15:29)

Isn't it great that the traffic flows freely when the school holidays have started. These 4x4's & the like full of overweight women & kids shouldn't be allowed anywhere near schools then we'll see the traffic flowing without any need for tolls.I live opposite a school & know many of these big women & they only live a couple of hundred yards away but they still drive to school, double parking all over the pavements & making it dangerous for other drivers going & coming from work. Cars shouldn't be allowed anywhere near schools for dropping kids off there.

dave m, bury (08/08/2006 at 18:34)

what another fantastic idea by our wonderful government. i work hard for my money but i may as well get it diverted into tony blairs bank account as i seem to get taxed more than i get paid, isnt our government great, they have the best ideas thanks mr blair your a true star. let all give a round of applause to the idea which will make us give yet more of our money over its not as if i dont pay enough to use my car as it is.

Chris, Ardwick (09/08/2006 at 13:00)

If all the silly road calming measures which have reduced the capacity of roads by a half were taken away we would see the traffic flowing again without the need for tolls. These tolls are just another hidden tax with the government creating problems on the roads in the full knowledge that they have planned these tolls to help the Treasury balance the books however much the "socialists" like Richard Everard fills them with their earnings.

Laugh Out Loud, Manchester (11/08/2006 at 10:13)

Richard Everard, did I miss something? This story is about road tolls, you managed to air views with regards to the proletariat (of which you seem to despise) on their consumption of fast food? I find the comments not only bizarre but you clearly have an issue with savory snacks. Its not the fault of the Sausage Roll for all societies problems you know! Leave them alone. If you agree please support the cause. All donations and support would be appreciated to stop the heinous crime of savory snack racism. Thanks.......

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