Belgium abandons m-way tol
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BELGIUM's new govemmen has abandoned the con troversial plan to charge toll for using the country' motorways.
Tentative plans drawn up i Brussels (CM, December 8 1979) foresaw the possibility c an annual charge of £300 t £400 for heavy lorries and lesser amount for cars.
Under the scheme driver would have bought a winc screen sticker — a so-calle -vignette— entitling them t use the motorways.
It was estimated that the tol would bring in the Belgian E chequer about 3.5 billion franc (more than £50m), a sum bad needed to help overcome a hef budget deficit.
But the scheme, apart froi being unpopular in Belgiurr was heavily attacked by neigl bouring Holland and West Ge many as being against the spir of the EEC. Both countries pri tested to the EEC Commission,
Now Belgium's new coalitic government — the twenty-nin• since the end of the war — hi; decided the tolls will cause mo trouble than they are worth.
The government, which to( office last month, has agre( instead to raise appreciably ti cost of road fund licences.