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Businessmen now back road pricing
Page 13
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BUSINESSF.S HAVE made a U-turn on their view of road pricing and are now in favour of it, according to a survey by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).
No less than 87% of respondents said congestion has become so bad that they are willing to support road pricing. Of nearly 1,400 businessmen questioned, 82% said the road network is essential to their operations and 84% said their local road network is too congested.
This support for road pricing comes with the condition that amendments arc made to other forms of taxation such as fuel duty and road tax. They also wanted a guarantee that the money raised by road charging would be used to improve the road infrastructure and public transport.
Gareth Elliott from the BCC says: "We aren't specifying a particular charging system like the German Maut; we are prepared to accept the scheme in general. British hauliers are already working at a huge cost, and they are disadvantaged against foreign hauliers corning over here not having to pay a thing."
Businessmen who responded Lo the survey said their annual operating costs have risen by an average of £18.000 as a direct result of the UK's crumbling infrastructure. More than 25% or businesses have increased their use of rail transport; 75% of those moving to rail blame congestion.