PM wrong to rule out charging on existing roads

The Prime Minister has made a big mistake by ruling out road user charging on existing strategic roads, according to the Environmental Transport Association (ETA).

The ETA believes that investment in a strategic road network should be funded by directly charging the driver for each mile used. In places where a well-designed network is still over-used, and therefore congested, a congestion charge would be needed too.

Chief Executive of the ETA, Andrew Davis, said: “A free-flowing national network cannot be built without proper road charging. If the Prime Minister’s advisors have not told him this simple fact he needs to replace them with people who understand the problem. A true leader will explain to motorists that we cannot expect a first-class strategic road network without paying for it.”

• What is road user charging and why is it important?