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Rural drivers may escape charges Raod charges may be in south only
(about 1 hour later)
Motorists in rural Wales could escape controversial road charges faced by many drivers the rest of the UK. Motorists in the south east of the country may have to pay to use main roads while the rest of Wales escapes road pricing, BBC Wales has learned.
More than 1.5m people have signed a petition against UK government road pricing proposals to combat congestion.More than 1.5m people have signed a petition against UK government road pricing proposals to combat congestion.
In Wales, the assembly government will decide if they are introduced.In Wales, the assembly government will decide if they are introduced.
But charges could be brought in only south east Wales, where congestion is a problem, Transport Minister Andrew Davies has told BBC Wales. Assembly Economic Minister Andrew Davies has told the Week in Week Out programme it may not be "relevant" to have an all-Wales scheme.
The proposals by the UK government may mean motorists will have to purchase tracking devices for their cars and pay a monthly bill to use them.The proposals by the UK government may mean motorists will have to purchase tracking devices for their cars and pay a monthly bill to use them.
It'll (road pricing) make it difficult to continue in the business Bernard Simpson, courierIt'll (road pricing) make it difficult to continue in the business Bernard Simpson, courier
Feasibility studies suggest this could cost drivers up to £25 a month, but UK Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman has stressed no decisions have yet been taken about how the system will work.Feasibility studies suggest this could cost drivers up to £25 a month, but UK Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman has stressed no decisions have yet been taken about how the system will work.
The petition, which comes to an end on Tuesday, calls the policy "sinister and wrong" and claims the charge would be unfair to poorer people and those who live away from their families.The petition, which comes to an end on Tuesday, calls the policy "sinister and wrong" and claims the charge would be unfair to poorer people and those who live away from their families.
One of the people who signed the petition was Cardiff courier Bernard Simpson, who drives 70,000 miles a year.
He said: "There's only so much you can take. It'll make it difficult to continue in the business."
It may well be that we can deal with the problems of congestion locally Transport Minister Andrew DaviesIt may well be that we can deal with the problems of congestion locally Transport Minister Andrew Davies
On Monday, the secretary of the North Wales Police Federation apologised for circulating the petition.
Pc Richard Eccles was quoted in the Daily Mail newspaper saying he had been told it was "inappropriate" for a police officer to send as it was critical of the Government.
The assembly government is "in discussions" with the Department for Transport, although it is "still very early days", said Mr Davies.The assembly government is "in discussions" with the Department for Transport, although it is "still very early days", said Mr Davies.
He said congestion would have to be dealt with as it was causing "huge problems" economically and environmentally.He said congestion would have to be dealt with as it was causing "huge problems" economically and environmentally.
'Major problem''Major problem'
"The biggest problem we have in congestion is in geographically a fairly small area, it's in the Newport-Cardiff area, and the south east valleys and around the M4," he said."The biggest problem we have in congestion is in geographically a fairly small area, it's in the Newport-Cardiff area, and the south east valleys and around the M4," he said.
"That is where we have the major problem with congestion, so, to deal with that, would we want an all-Wales scheme?"That is where we have the major problem with congestion, so, to deal with that, would we want an all-Wales scheme?
"I think the jury is out on that, and personally, it may not be relevant to have an all-Wales scheme, it may well be that we can deal with the problems of congestion locally," he said."I think the jury is out on that, and personally, it may not be relevant to have an all-Wales scheme, it may well be that we can deal with the problems of congestion locally," he said.
One of the people who signed the petition was Cardiff courier Bernard Simpson, who drives 70,000 miles a year.
He said: "There's only so much you can take. It'll make it difficult to continue in the business."
Week In Week Out is on Tuesday, 20 February at 2235 GMT on BBC One WalesWeek In Week Out is on Tuesday, 20 February at 2235 GMT on BBC One Wales