Kent wants to toll foreign trucks
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Kent County Council is lobbying the government to give it the power to introduce tolls on foreign-registered trucks using its roads.
Council leader Sandy Bruce-Lockhart says the tolls would help compensate UK hauliers who are currently disadvantaged by their high running costs.
"We are currently being told we cannot implement this system," he adds. "But our argument is that it is no different to the vignette system currently in operation in the Benelux countries."
The council has found that 61% of trucks on its roads last year were foreign-registered—and that figure has risen to 64% already this year.
The scheme would offset some of the costs that the council incurred paying for part of the road infrastruc ture for the Channel Tunnel.
Kent originally tried to implement the scheme in 1992 and again as part of this year's Transport Bill, but was told that the measures would be anti-competitive.
It now believes it can introduce the scheme as it would be little different to London Mayor Ken Livingstone's plans for congestion charges in the capital.
However, the planned Kent tolls would be rebated for UK hauliers.
The Freight Transport Association says it welcomes any move to level the playing field with the rest of Europe and adds that Kent County Council's plans are similar to its and the RHA's proposals for a BRIT disc scheme.