NATIONAL STUDY ON ROAD CHARGING IS VITAL

THE SOUTH EAST ENGLAND REGIONAL ASSEMBLY is calling for an early Government study on the feasibility and impact of introducing a national "pay as you drive" charging scheme.

The Assembly, who met recently to discuss agree their formal advice to the Secretary of State on the ORBIT Multi-Modal Study, agreed that before area-wide charging - a charging scheme whereby motorists are charged for all road travel based mainly on the distance travelled- can be properly considered on a regional or national basis, the Government needs to undertake a study to consider in detail the feasibility and the environmental, economic and social implications of such a scheme. The ORBIT consultants had recommended a charging scheme as the lynchpin of their long term strategy.

Cllr Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the Assembly's Regional Planning Committee, said: "We have some serious concerns about such a charging scheme and the impact in economic, social and environmental terms. Until the Government has completed the recommended study, the Assembly will reserve its position on area wide charging."

The Assembly also advised the Secretary of State to:

• Give an early commitment to delivering Thameslink 2000 and Crossrail;
  
  
• Add the following widening schemes to the Highways Agency's Targeted Programme of Improvements: Junctions 5 to 7, Junctions 16 to 23 and Junctions 27 to 31. Also, he should instruct the Highways Agency to undertake further work to investigate the feasibility of, and the need for, widening the M25 between Junctions 1b to 3 and Junctions 23 to 27 and improvements to existing junctions. All widening should be linked to tough new traffic management measures;
  
  
• Commission without delay a study to consider the potential and impacts of a Lower Thames Crossing;
  
  
• Put much more emphasis on investment in bus and coach networks and measures to help freight movement.

Cllr Mitchell continued: "On the whole the Assembly is disappointed with the final ORBIT report which the consultants produced and concerned about its lack of long term vision and delivery strategy. However, there are a range of medium term public transport and highway improvements which need to be made over the next ten years. We urge the Secretary of State to give the support and funding required to make this happen and to revisit the longer term issues when the charging report is to hand."

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Alex Butlin, PR Executive - 01483 555221

Notes to editors:

1. The Regional Assembly is the “voluntary regional chamber” for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
2. The Assembly is made up of 111 members including elected councillors nominated by the region’s local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
3. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007