Green paper calls for motorway tolls
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• The Government's controversial plans to make hauliers pay tolls to use motorways are due to be published this week as part of the DOT's study into road pricing. This is designed to reduce congestion and increase finance for the treasury.
Chancellor Norman Lamont believes that charging for interurban roads "would create significant new opportunities . for private finance".
The Green Paper is likely to introduce the concept of "shadow tolls". Under this scheme the operator of a private road would be paid a fee (probably by the DOT) according to the number of vehicles using the road.
The RAC and AA have both completed surveys of road pricing. The RAC says 86% of its respondents would find charging unacceptable unless VED was reduced and the amount earned from charges was spent on the road network. In the AA survey 54% of respondents opposed the idea of privately built and operated motorways.