24 August 2001
A study published on August 20 by the Institute of Directors, More roads and road pricing, the way to go?, concluded that only a major programme of congestion charging, road building and greater private sector involvement can reduce traffic levels on the road network.
It warns that unless such an approach is implemented now, congestion could be as bad or worse by 2010.
The government has earmarked £60bn to tackle road congestion by reducing road usage and persuading motorists to switch to public transport.
IoD chief economist and report author Graeme Leach said the current 'Soviet' system of 'rationing by queuing' had to end.
'The IoD does not believe the government can achieve its targets for reducing congestion without widespread road pricing,' he said. 'We have to face up to a simple truth – in the face of strong opposition from the environment lobby – that more road capacity will have to be built.'
But a spokesman for the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions rejected the report's conclusions. 'There is nothing in this report that makes us think the ten-year plan is wrong and we stand by our predictions. We are working on a review of the first year of the plan and the findings it is bringing up are that the plan is working,' he said.
PFaug2001
