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Road charging slips right back to 2008
Page 15
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CHANCELLOR GORDON Brown has been praised and condemned in equal measure for delaying the introduction of the Lorry Road User Charge, after announcing in his Budget speech it will now start in 2008.
The Freight Transport Association's chief executive, Richard Turner. says its introduction will be a "massive technological adventure" and a more realistic timetable was needed, particularly following the collapse of the German system.
Turner says:"FTA welcomes the soft start to the scheme, demonstrated by the piloting from 2006, and the good sense of a three year roll-out programme from 2008."
Roger King, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association. adds: "The delay to the planned Lorry Road User Charge scheme, while coming as no surprise to us, puts back any prospect of a level playing field further still. Many hauliers simply may not be around to reap the rewards the charge has always promised."
However. the FTA says the increase in ultra-low and sulphurfree diesel will cost the industry between /190m and /250m per year and it accuses the government of "badly letting down those companies that have invested in alternative fuel vehicles".
Meanwhile, Brown also announced a freeze on VED.
• See page 32 for an in-depili analysis of the Budget.