The CBI, Confederation of British Industry, have called for an overhaul of how the roads we drive on are paid for. They have called for the introduction of pay as you go tolls.
The CBI said private investment was necessary as there was a £10 billion shortfall in funding for Highways Agency projects and there was also the likelihood of a decline in motoring tax revenue due to increasingly efficient new vehicles.
The CBI added that the UK economy was already losing up to £8 billion a year from congestion on the roads, with this figure possibly rising to £22 billion by 2025.
“Every day, people up and down the UK lose time and money because of our clogged-up roads,” said John Cridland, the CBI’s director general.
“Whether you’re a business waiting for an urgent delivery, or a commuter stuck in the morning rush-hour, gridlock is an all too familiar tale of life in the UK.”
“With public spending checked, the case for new funding solutions is even more compelling, and the Government recognises this. Infrastructure matters to business, and delivering upgrades to our networks is one of the highest priorities for the CBI to get the economy moving again.”
But the idea was dismissed by an AA spokesman. “The idea of road tolling will anger drivers and this has already been rejected by 70 per cent of motorists both in our own Populus poll and the referendum on a road pricing scheme in Manchester a few years ago.
“Drivers think they are paying more than enough to pay for the roads already, this cash should be spent on easing pinch points motorists already face, rather than demanding more in taxes.”
Oct, 08, 2012