Road tolls are there to offset our borrowing
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WHEN THE M6 Toll Road was opened in 2003, the CBI said it would save UK businesses millions of pounds each year by reducing lost working time, reduce fuel usage and improve delivery times. But hauliers have eschewed the toll road because of the cost. As a result, the 'old' M6 is swamped with vehicles at rush hour.
Last week, with welcome honesty, Tory leader David Cameron made it clear road tolls are purely a way of raising funds to offset our huge public borrowing — he isn't trying to pretend they are a 'solve-all' solution to traffic congestion. The reality, though, is that most of the income from toll roads will be paid by UK businesses Recent statistics on the M6 Toll Road show that only half the motorists it was predicted would use it when it opened are using it now. Given the fact there are about four million business car and van drivers on our roads, it would follow that if the Tories get into power, they will be looking to businesses to generate the cash.
The fleet industry needs to be prepared, and a 'head in the sand' attitude is just not sustainable. Robert Kingdom Head of marketing Masterlease