SIR – The European Commission has been pressing to see road pricing imposed on all vehicles on all roads.
It would be politically unacceptable if the Government just did this, but one way around it would be to effectively privatise our major routes by leasing them to toll operators for profit. As traffic was displaced onto local roads, there would duly be pressure to toll them, too.
The Government risks moving in that direction by seeking to make the Highways Agency into a state-owned company with commercial freedom. It has already accepted a report recommending squeezing ‘maximum economic value’ from our roads and looking at tolling routes that are currently free.
Our roads have been paid for several times over by the long-suffering public and must not be leased off; privatisation in all but name.
Readers can have their say in an important consultation, but please note that it closes on December 20. Write to: DfT Roads Reform Consultation, 33 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 4DR, or e-mail Roads.Reform@dft.gsi.gov.uk.
Mark Taylor, campaign manager, New Alliance, London
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