Road lobby unites against road pricing
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• Town centre road charging schemes are not likely to be launched before the end of the decade because of technological and legislative difficulties.
The Department of Transport says the first schemes could be in place by the year 2000—if there is the political will to charge drivers for access to city centres.
Urban congestion is being considered by the all-party Parliamentary Transport Select Committee. The Freight Transport Association was among motoring organisations called before it last week to give evidence. They all told MPs that all other options, such as improving public transport, should be fried before bringing in charges.
Richard Turner, ETA executive director of transport policy, told the committee that hauliers already paid congestion charges in the form of delays and increased costs.
Some members of the Select Committee are known to oppose charging. One member, Peter Bottomley, describes the idea as "nonsense".
The DOT says that local authorities would not be allowed to set up any type of road pricing pilot scheme without legislation.