Local Transport Bill draws criticism

• RAC Foundation hits out at local road charging
• Calls for independent body to oversee scheme
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Plans to give local authorities the power to introduce road-charging schemes have drawn criticism from the RAC Foundation.

The proposals are part of the Local Transport Bill published in May, which is currently being appraised by a select committee and transport minister Rosie Winterton.

The bill aims to give local councils more control of how they improve public transport and reduce congestion.

However, it has also raised concerns that councils will use the power to introduce road charging as a means of raising revenue and forcing motorists off the roads, rather than tackling transport problems.

The select committee has already recommended amendments to the bill, but the RAC Foundation doesn't believe they go far enough.

David Holmes, RAC Foundation chairman, said: 'Road pricing will only be acceptable to motorists if there are robust safeguards on fairness of charges, proper rights of appeal, protection of privacy and an independent body to oversee the schemes.'

Holmes added that public trust in road-pricing schemes would be significantly increased if an independent body was set up to oversee them, and expressed disappointment that the select committee had not recommended one was put in place.

In addition, the RAC Foundation is pushing for the bill to include the building of new roads where needed as part of the solution to congestion, rather than channelling all resources into improving public transport.