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| Motorists 'must pay for road use' | Motorists 'must pay for road use' |
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| Motorists should be asked to pay to drive on the nation's road network, a report commissioned by the government has recommended. | Motorists should be asked to pay to drive on the nation's road network, a report commissioned by the government has recommended. |
| Former British Airways chief Sir Rod Eddington has examined options for modernising the UK transport network. | Former British Airways chief Sir Rod Eddington has examined options for modernising the UK transport network. |
| He has reported that road tolls could benefit the economy to the tune of £28bn a year. | He has reported that road tolls could benefit the economy to the tune of £28bn a year. |
| With road charging, drivers would pay more to use roads when they were busy or more congested. | With road charging, drivers would pay more to use roads when they were busy or more congested. |
| If road charging was introduced, the government would be able to examine the option of whether it could raise enough revenue to replace fuel duty and the car tax disc. | If road charging was introduced, the government would be able to examine the option of whether it could raise enough revenue to replace fuel duty and the car tax disc. |
| Fundraiser | Fundraiser |
| ROAD PRICING AND CONGESTION See 2025 congestion maps | ROAD PRICING AND CONGESTION See 2025 congestion maps |
| Road charges could cut congestion by half, Sir Rod said in the report commissioned by Chancellor Gordon Brown. | |
| Grand projects like high-speed rail links were less important than using existing networks better, he added. | Grand projects like high-speed rail links were less important than using existing networks better, he added. |
| Smaller projects, including an expansion of the UK cycle network, received strong backing. | Smaller projects, including an expansion of the UK cycle network, received strong backing. |
| But Sir Rod warned the new technology would be hard to implement. | But Sir Rod warned the new technology would be hard to implement. |
| "Road pricing on this scale is new and at this stage has unknown implementation costs," Sir Rod said in the report. | "Road pricing on this scale is new and at this stage has unknown implementation costs," Sir Rod said in the report. |
| READ THE FINDINGS Eddington Transport Study: Sir Rod Eddington's advice to Government [2.1MB] Vol 1: Understanding the relationship [280KB] Vol 2: Defining the challenge [6.4MB] Vol 3: Meeting the challenge [1.8MB] Vol 4: Taking action [3.5MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | |
| "There are very significant risks and uncertainties involved in delivering a pricing policy, particularly around the technology needed for its delivery." | "There are very significant risks and uncertainties involved in delivering a pricing policy, particularly around the technology needed for its delivery." |
| The government announced the transport study in 2005 as part of an effort to examine the long-term impact of transport decisions on the UK economy. | The government announced the transport study in 2005 as part of an effort to examine the long-term impact of transport decisions on the UK economy. |
| Sir Rod has examined the possibilities for road pricing, road building, rail and airport investment, as well as the planning system. | Sir Rod has examined the possibilities for road pricing, road building, rail and airport investment, as well as the planning system. |
| His report identifies three strategic transport priorities - congested and growing city catchments, "inter-urban" corridors and important international gateways showing signs of congestion and unreliability. | His report identifies three strategic transport priorities - congested and growing city catchments, "inter-urban" corridors and important international gateways showing signs of congestion and unreliability. |
| See changes in the real cost of transport and income in the UK 1980-2005Enlarge Image | |
| Such gateways include Heathrow Airport where 28% of flights are delayed by more than 15 minutes - some of the worst delays in the EU. | Such gateways include Heathrow Airport where 28% of flights are delayed by more than 15 minutes - some of the worst delays in the EU. |
| The report concludes that the potential benefits of charging motorists for using roads will outweigh the costs of the scheme. | The report concludes that the potential benefits of charging motorists for using roads will outweigh the costs of the scheme. |
| Road charges will put some people off driving entirely, cut congestion and carbon emissions and could raise up to £16bn a year in payments, Sir Rod says. | Road charges will put some people off driving entirely, cut congestion and carbon emissions and could raise up to £16bn a year in payments, Sir Rod says. |
| Sir Rod's report also says: | Sir Rod's report also says: |
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| Many of the recommendations are in line with government thinking, but have now received the backing of a respected businessman. | Many of the recommendations are in line with government thinking, but have now received the backing of a respected businessman. |
| The prospect of road pricing was given a cool welcome by some. | The prospect of road pricing was given a cool welcome by some. |
| The Transport 2000 lobby group said that, for road pricing to work, alternatives to driving must be improved. | The Transport 2000 lobby group said that, for road pricing to work, alternatives to driving must be improved. |
| Shadow transport secretary Chris Grayling said a national road pricing scheme for every road was not "realistically achievable in the near future". | Shadow transport secretary Chris Grayling said a national road pricing scheme for every road was not "realistically achievable in the near future". |
| Conservative plan | Conservative plan |
| Sir Rod's report warns that how we get around Britain will be vital for future economic success. | Sir Rod's report warns that how we get around Britain will be vital for future economic success. |
| For road pricing to work it's going to have to be accompanied by a lot of other measures Stephen Joseph, Transport 2000 Send us your comments Business wants action | For road pricing to work it's going to have to be accompanied by a lot of other measures Stephen Joseph, Transport 2000 Send us your comments Business wants action |
| The government has already indicated it will press ahead with trial road-pricing schemes across England - amid fears congestion could rise by 25% by 2015 in big towns and cities. | The government has already indicated it will press ahead with trial road-pricing schemes across England - amid fears congestion could rise by 25% by 2015 in big towns and cities. |
| The draft Road Transport Bill, announced in the Queen's Speech, gives councils more freedom to bring in their own schemes in busy areas. | The draft Road Transport Bill, announced in the Queen's Speech, gives councils more freedom to bring in their own schemes in busy areas. |
| The Conservatives have released their own strategy, Getting Around: Britain's Great Frustration, calling for greener cars on the roads and major long-term projects. | The Conservatives have released their own strategy, Getting Around: Britain's Great Frustration, calling for greener cars on the roads and major long-term projects. |
| They have also not ruled out road pricing but say they would build new roads and have a more integrated transport policy. | They have also not ruled out road pricing but say they would build new roads and have a more integrated transport policy. |
| Return to top | Return to top |