Government cash for road charging

Monday, November 28, 2005

Government grants allocated to test road charging
Biggest award to West Midlands
Plans to charge drivers 2p–£1.34 per mile by 2015

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Cash for local road charging pilot projects has been awarded by the Government today. The money is intended to test how a nationwide system could eventually be introduced.

In all, £7.5 million is being provided by the Department for Transport to local authorities in seven areas around the UK to look at how charges could be introduced and managed.

The biggest award – some £2.6 million – goes to the West Midlands, which is widely recognised as having some of the most acute traffic flow problems in the UK.

The next biggest award goes to Bristol, while Durham, which has already introduced a charge for accessing the historic city centre, is given the smallest payment of £300,000. Greater Manchester, Tyne and Wear, Cambridgeshire and Shropshire also receive funding.

All of the local authorities involved will look at how demand on their road networks can be managed and combined with improved public transport in a bid to cut congestion.

Transport secretary Alistair Darling said: 'We are looking forward to working with these authorities to develop practical solutions to congestion problems and support the development of a nationwide road pricing scheme. Without radical measures, congestion will get worse.'

Darling unveiled plans this June to charge motorists between 2p and £1.34 a mile within the next 10 to 15 years.

Motoring groups, such as the RAC Foundation, have accepted that nationwide charging is inevitable, but warn it will need to be offset by drops in other charges such as fuel duty and road tax.

Its introduction will need to be carefully managed so as not to alienate motorists. Whatcar.com users remain highly sceptical, with our poll showing that only 5% of you back road charging plans.

Nationwide charging has been a key suggestion from Government advisors for four years. The Commission for Integrated Transport suggests charges of up to 30p a mile, and claims it could see many motorists’ yearly bills dropping.

A further £11 million will be awarded next year for road charging schemes, while funding will rise to £2.5 billion in 2014.