Tories: road charging will not cost you more
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ANY FUTURE LORRY roaduser charge will be simple and may target tractor units only, as operators of those vehicles are most at risk from competition from cheaper foreign operators.
Speaking at the Freight Transport Association's (FTA Transport Hub fringe event at the Conservative Party Conference on Monday night (4 October), transport minister Mike Penning said: "The Prime Minister, the Chancellor, the Secretary of State, and myself, passionately believe that you are taxed too much already. I'm not going to bring in a road charging scheme that costs you money.
"It's not going to be done as a spy in the cab: I want a simple system that compensates only those that are losing out to foreign competition — and so that the Treasury doesn't jump all over me because of the costs
-Modelling can now begin as the Comprehensive Spending Review is nearly done and the Treasury has released staff to the Department for Transport [Drri to do that."
During his presentation, Pen
ning addressed a number of key industry topic.s. In reference to a question about longer, heavier vehicles, he said: "I'm looking at extensions in length. There are a myriad of different views from the industry and understand some hauliers fear them."
CM understands that the DIT will not consider weight increases.
The Highways Agency will need to make more use of hard-shoulder running. Penning said. "We must sweat the assets much harder." he noted, adding that we should expect to see the hard shoulder being used on the M25.
Operators whose vehicles use the Dartford Crossing can rejoice following this statement from the minister: "If delays go back past the A13, the barriers will open and you will go through for free."
Next week, Penning is expected to announce his decision on the proposal for eco-driving training to be a mandatory part of the Driver CPC. Further changes at the Dartford Crossing are also likely.
• See p12 for more on lorry roaduser charging.