30 April 1999
The association also has the support of the Freight Transport Association, Transport 2000, the RAC and the AA for its call for comprehensive legislation to allow councils to take forward integrated transport initiatives.
And LGA chiefs have been cheered by the publication of a report on April 28 from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions' select committee, which called on the government to allow authorities more power to deliver local solutions to local transport problems.
The committee suggested that congestion charging should be applied to out-of-town retail and leisure developments, as well as town centres, unlike present plans to include it only in urban areas.
LGA environment chairman Derek Bateman said councils were willing to implement the government's transport vision.
He added: 'We need legal powers to make schemes such as congestion charging work. If the government wants a transport system ready for the 21st century, there must be a new bill in the next Queen's Speech.'
l Local councils are to be given powers to impose 20mph speed limits as part of a government crackdown on speeding. A call from motoring organisations to raise the speed limit on motorways to 80mph is certain to be rejected as the battle continues to reduce road accidents.
PFapr1999
