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Road-fees scheme petition closes No decision on road tolls - Blair
(about 4 hours later)
An online petition opposing plans for road-pricing schemes has closed after being signed by almost 1.8m people. No decision on national road pricing has yet been made, Tony Blair has said in his e-mail to the 1.8m signatories of the petition opposing a toll scheme.
Tony Blair's response will later be posted on the Downing Street website - where the petition appeared - and will be sent to the 1,792,116 signatories. He says the debate is about tackling congestion and not an effort to introduce a "stealth tax" on motorists.
Funds raised by pilot schemes would be spent on local transport, he added.
The prime minister's reply will be sent to the 1,792,116 people who signed the petition on the Downing Street website before it closed at midnight.
Downing Street has stressed the plans should not be viewed as an automatic step towards a national strategy.Downing Street has stressed the plans should not be viewed as an automatic step towards a national strategy.
However, the prime minister's official spokesman insisted doing nothing to tackle congestion was not an option.However, the prime minister's official spokesman insisted doing nothing to tackle congestion was not an option.
'Sinister and wrong''Sinister and wrong'
A BBC-commissioned poll found nearly 75% of people are opposed to the idea of charging motorists by the mile.A BBC-commissioned poll found nearly 75% of people are opposed to the idea of charging motorists by the mile.
The cost of the technology and the infrastructure would be far better spent on improving the railways and the public transport system Peter Roberts E-petitions and democracyThe cost of the technology and the infrastructure would be far better spent on improving the railways and the public transport system Peter Roberts E-petitions and democracy
The petition, which appears on a section of Downing Street's website set up in November to allow anyone to address and deliver a petition directly to the prime minister, says tolls are "sinister and wrong" and unfair to poorer people.The petition, which appears on a section of Downing Street's website set up in November to allow anyone to address and deliver a petition directly to the prime minister, says tolls are "sinister and wrong" and unfair to poorer people.
It calls for the scrapping of "planned vehicle tracking and road-pricing policy" and was so popular that at one point it crashed the website.It calls for the scrapping of "planned vehicle tracking and road-pricing policy" and was so popular that at one point it crashed the website.
Tony Blair's response is expected to be posted on the website at 0600 GMT and he has said he will also e-mail to everyone who signed. Tony Blair's spokesman said the government would press ahead with 10 road pricing pilot schemes in 10 locations around the country.
His spokesman said the government would press ahead with 10 road pricing pilot schemes in 10 locations around the country.
"The important thing to stress is that the pilot schemes are to work out what is possible in tackling congestion, how to go about it and how to learn lessons," he said.
He added that congestion was predicted to rise by 40% by 2025. "Doing nothing is not an option," he said.He added that congestion was predicted to rise by 40% by 2025. "Doing nothing is not an option," he said.
Plans to introduce a nationwide "pay-as-you-drive" system were unveiled by former Transport Secretary Alistair Darling in 2005.Plans to introduce a nationwide "pay-as-you-drive" system were unveiled by former Transport Secretary Alistair Darling in 2005.
HAVE YOUR SAY We should beat congestion by making it viable for more staff to work from home Peter, Croydon Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY We should beat congestion by making it viable for more staff to work from home Peter, Croydon Send us your comments
His successor, Douglas Alexander, has since suggested that road pricing could be brought in within a decade.His successor, Douglas Alexander, has since suggested that road pricing could be brought in within a decade.
The Downing Street spokesman's comments came as the results of a BBC-commissioned poll were revealed in which 74% of people said they were opposed to charging motorists by the mile.The Downing Street spokesman's comments came as the results of a BBC-commissioned poll were revealed in which 74% of people said they were opposed to charging motorists by the mile.
But 55% of those spoken to said they would change their minds and support such a scheme if the money raised was used to improve public transport.But 55% of those spoken to said they would change their minds and support such a scheme if the money raised was used to improve public transport.
More than 25% said nothing would make the policy acceptable to them.More than 25% said nothing would make the policy acceptable to them.
'More evidence''More evidence'
Those most in favour of a charging system were 18 to 24-year-olds with 28% of those asked saying the government should introduce one.Those most in favour of a charging system were 18 to 24-year-olds with 28% of those asked saying the government should introduce one.
The man who started the petition, Peter Roberts, a 46-year-old account manager from Telford, said the poll was more evidence that people were wary of road charges.The man who started the petition, Peter Roberts, a 46-year-old account manager from Telford, said the poll was more evidence that people were wary of road charges.
He also said investment should be made in the transport network without a road-charging scheme.He also said investment should be made in the transport network without a road-charging scheme.
"Road pricing as an idea has got some merit," he said."Road pricing as an idea has got some merit," he said.
"But the cost of the technology and the infrastructure would be far better spent on improving the railways and the public transport system"."But the cost of the technology and the infrastructure would be far better spent on improving the railways and the public transport system".
ROAD PRICING VIEWS Which if any, of the following, would make the policy acceptable to you? Total % If money raised was used to improve public transport... 424 55 If money raised was used to cut other road taxes... 407 53 If the money went to the treasury... 56 7 Nothing would make that policy acceptable to me... 202 26 Based on responses of 768 people Source: ICM survey commissioned by the BBCROAD PRICING VIEWS Which if any, of the following, would make the policy acceptable to you? Total % If money raised was used to improve public transport... 424 55 If money raised was used to cut other road taxes... 407 53 If the money went to the treasury... 56 7 Nothing would make that policy acceptable to me... 202 26 Based on responses of 768 people Source: ICM survey commissioned by the BBC
Full research findings [86k] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader hereFull research findings [86k] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here