Glasgow tolls threat • Hauliers entering Glasgow could soon be
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asked to pay tolls of up to 50p to fund the northern extension of the M74 in the south of the city.
The Scottish Office says the extension is currently part of the Government's Trunking Roads Review. But a decision on whether the five-mile stretch of road will be built will not be made until late summer.
Peter Burdon, chief executive of Glasgow Chambers of Commerce, says the road is vital as it would ease congestion.
He is worried that the Scottish Office will decide not to build the extension because of the cost, estimated to be £175m.
Because of this Burdon plans to lobby the Scottish Office with the idea of a series of "small tolls" around the city, including the M73, M8 and M77, to fund the project.
"We could charge a £1 toll on just the five-mile stretch of road," he says. "But due to lack of space for toll booths this would be impracticable."
A spokesman for the Scottish Office says the Government is currently looking into the funding of the project if it is given the go-ahead—and tolls will be one of the options that will be considered.