Local and UK charging on the way

A national scheme to charge motorists for each mile they drive could be the only way to avoid gridlock on Britain’s roads, according to transport secretary Alistair Darling.

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A national scheme to charge motorists for each mile they drive could be the only way to avoid gridlock on Britain’s roads, transport secretary Alistair Darling told the House of Commons today.

Darling has backed a report published today which estimates that a UK-wide road user charging system could raise £9bn a year and halve traffic congestion.

He said that although a nationwide scheme would take 10 to 15 years to introduce, more charging on a local level, like the London congestion charge scheme, could be implemented far sooner. A fund is to be set up to make establishing congestion charging schemes less of a burden for local councils, Darling said.

The national scheme could charge motorists different mileage rates depending on the time of their journey and the congestion levels on their chosen route.

Such charges could possibly be offset by reductions in other taxes. However, the system could mean drivers in rural areas pay less to use their cars, while those in busy urban areas could end up paying more.

Darling told the House of Commons: ‘We can’t try to build our way out of the problem – but nor can we accept eventual gridlock.’ He conceded that gaining public support for a road user charging scheme would be crucial for its success.

The RAC Foundation said UK-wide road pricing could only be acceptable as part of a package of measures which should include more spending on roads, improved public transport and a reduction in other motoring taxes.