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Road toll study
Page 20
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Operators will have their say on possible road pricing in the West
Midlands. Guy Sheppard reports.
CONSULTANTS ARE TO quiz two road transport leaders from the West Midlands about the potential impact of road pricing on the region.
Mike Farmer, regional director of the RHA, and Stephen Kelly,the ETA's regional head of policy, are among 10 people lobe interviewed from various industrial sectors.
Ecotech, the consultancy that has been commissioned to assess the impact of congestion on business and how to reduce it, will also conduct 300 phone interviews and 30 face-to-face interviews with business bosses.
The government-funded feasi bility study, due to be completed in July, will cost Li .2m. Ecotech will draw up a range of potential solutions, including road pricing.
Farmer says that if the road pricing option is pursued, it will be vital to establish whether its purpose is to reduce congestion or simply raise revenue.
"If it's just congestion busting. there's no point in charging lorries because they have to be there anyway: he points out. "Road pricing is going to add to the price of goods in the shops if it is not revenue-neutral, and that in turn will affect the competitiveness of the region.