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OUR VOICE MUST BE HEARD

29th March 2007, Page 3
29th March 2007
Page 3
Page 3, 29th March 2007 — OUR VOICE MUST BE HEARD
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

There is nothing inevitable in politics. If a week is proverbially a long time then we have an eternity to wait before road pricing becomes a reality. If it proves unpopular enough any government will ditch it, even if that means letting gridlock become the next guy's problem. However, it is equally possible that public opinion will change over the next decade seat-belts and smoking bans both seemed strange and unnecessary when first mooted.

The public imagination becomes the forum in which every debate is fought and won long before the government has to commit itself to anything. This is the process by which a social climate is created, devoid of detail but saturated with certain shared truths which it becomes anathema to speak out against. It is very different to informed public debate or a cool and rational analysis of a policy's impact.

The mechanisms for Local schemes will emerge from the pilots, so we must make sure we influence those. If you live or operate in Cambridgeshire, Durham, Greater Manchester, Shropshire, Tyne and Wear, the West Midlands conurbation, Reading, Norfolk, Bristol or the cities of Nottingham, Leicester and Derby, then it's time to get involved. These are the local authorities with money to assess congestion in their areas and devise a demand-management scheme to combat it. Make sure they hear your voice.

If we must pay a greater price, then let us ensure the road transport industry gets greater value.


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