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Transport charging could hike haulage costs by 15%
Page 6
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• by Melanie Hammond Hauliers could find their costs rising by as much as 15% after controversial plans on transport charging were voted through by the European Parliament, an MEP has warned.
According to Conservative MEP Philip Bradbourn, the 'Costa report" which went before the Strasbourg Parliament last week, will mean "swingeing Increases in charges, tolls and levies on the region's transport users" ( CM21 Dec 2000).
The European Commission will draft a white paper by 7 March and legislation could be introduced before the end of the year.
The reason for the proposals is to "introduce a comprehensive system of transport infrastructure charging". This will take account of social costs such as congestion, pollution, road wear-and-tear and noise. It would be left to each member state to decide how M meet the criteria of the report.
Bradbourn estimates a 15% increase in UK transport costs which he has based on a Dutch government study designed to examine the effects of such legislation. He warns: "If the report is adopted by the European Commission in legislation, it will hit the disabled, rural dwellers and local road haulage companies especially hard."
However, Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne, who voted in favour of the report, disputes this: "This is not about the EU raising taxes, nor is it a plan to impose a new tax over and above existing national taxes.
if anything, the proposals for common charging systems could help cut the massive discrepancies In fuel duty and vehicle licensing suffered by British hauliers and operators compared with the rest of Europe.'
Bradbourn argues: "When have you ever known anything to be harmonised downwards?"
Commenting on the report, RHA chief executive Roger King says: "We should look at this with an open mind. A harmonised system on transport costs could help level the playing field in Europe.
"I cannot see the government, which is now more aware than ever of the road haulage industry's problems, using this to pile on more costs.
"If It means the costs are the same for anyone turning a wheel on a UK road, be they French, Spanish or English, then we will welcome it. If it means higher costs to UK hauliers, we will condemn it outright."