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Haulage leaders will be consulted on tolls

2nd August 2001, Page 8
2nd August 2001
Page 8
Page 8, 2nd August 2001 — Haulage leaders will be consulted on tolls
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by Guy Sheppard Leading figures in the haulage industry are to be consulted within the next month about the introduction of congestion charging In the West Midlands.

A feasibility study suggests a flat rate of either £1 or £2 a day could be imposed on all vehicles entering Birmingham city centre from 2006. Charges for other centres such as Wolverhampton and Coventry may follow at a later date.

Colin Eastman, technical advisor to the West Midlands transport committee, which discussed the proposals last week, says exemptions for trucks, such as free entry before 10.00hrs, may be allowed because the study recognises that most deliveries cannot be made by another mode of transport.

But he adds: "It's a level of complexity which I am not sure we want to go down at the moment." One potential problem would be car drivers trying to register their vehicles on the scheme as trucks to avoid paying the charges.

Eastman says a single payment of El or £2 would cover all journeys in and out of the centre during one day and would prove cheaper than avoiding the city.

"I can think of a number of one way schemes where the greater mileage caused to commercial vehicles costs a damn site more than £2."

He adds that business will benefit because up to £36 million would be raised by the charges each year, and this would all be ploughed back into transport improvements to reduce congestion. Eastman plans to discuss the proposals with leaders of the Freight Transport Association and the Road Haulage Association by early September.

Clive Hampson, managing director of Smethwick-based Hampson Haulage, warns that it could be a nightmare to administer and recover the payments.

Birmingham area manager of the Road Haulage Association, John Howells. says: "We are in favour of anything that reduces congestion, but feel that the charges should be for the cause of congestion, which is cars."

London will be the first UK city to introduce congestion charging in 2003 with a flat rate of £5.


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