03 September 2009
The government should sell the roads off to the private sector, according to the RAC Foundation.
The motoring organisation’s director, Stephen Glaister, has been discussing the proposal with Whitehall officials. Under the scheme, roads that are currently the responsibility of the Highways Agency would be sold to private firms in the same way as gas utilities were privatised in the 1980s.
Glaister said that this would result in roads being managed more efficiently. He added that the companies could be given a large share of fuel and road taxes.
In the long run firms could charge for road use, as is the case with the M6 toll road,
he added.
The government should sell the roads off to the private sector, according to the RAC Foundation.
The motoring organisation’s director, Stephen Glaister, has been discussing the proposal with Whitehall officials. Under the scheme, roads that are currently the responsibility of the Highways Agency would be sold to private firms in the same way as gas utilities were privatised in the 1980s.
Glaister said that this would result in roads being managed more efficiently. He added that the companies could be given a large share of fuel and road taxes.
In the long run firms could charge for road use, as is the case with the M6 toll road,
he added.
