'Don't charge us to use A14'
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by Chris Tindall.
CHARGING COMPANIES for using a new stretch of the A14 in Cambridgeshire will hit businesses hard and result in six-figure bills, according to hauliers.
Proposals for a toll along 12 miles of road being built between Ellington and Swavesey were unveiled last week, prompting an angry outburst from the industry. Paul Dawson, MD of Deben Transport, said a £3 charge would lead to bills in excess of £144,000 for the Felixstowe firm. "It isn't good news for anyone, not just
hauliers," he said. "It will cause a lot of hardship. It will throw traffic out all over the place."
He added: "By the time it's built, [the toll] will be £8 or £9. It's £11 on the M6 and it's the same sort of length. We need to have a word with our MP, who is against it, as well as canvass the government to try and think things through."
A spokesman for container haulier Maritime Transport said: "We are concerned that funding by toll would increase the cost of operating in and via East Anglia. "We do not see tolling as a solution to road funding. Our
experience is that it is inefficient and costly. The Dartford Crossing is a good example of how tolling doesn't work."
Jack Semple, policy director at the Road Haulage Association (RHA), said: "It's the last thing the haulage industry needs, and it will damage business and employment in East Anglia. It is particularly concerning given the current competition [between] Felixstowe and other ports." Semple added that the additional proposal to demolish a road viaduct to prevent use of the old A14 was "wanton destruction
of good road infrastructure". The RHA launched a campaign this week called Say No To A14 Toll in response to members' feedback on the topic.
The Highways Agency said heavy traffic would have two nontolled alternative routes and charges would be applied via automatic number plate recognition. A spokeswoman added that the level of toll had not been fixed and would be approximately £2 and £3 for LGVs between 6am and 10pm.