Archived press release

Prescott plans to defy blair on london's transport

3 September 1998

The Transport White Paper promised “legislation to enable local authorities to levy a new parking charge of workplace parking ... We propose to legislate to enable the parking charge to apply to all types of private non-residential workplace parking, although we will consult on whether there should be any national exemptions (e.g. for emergency vehicles and Orange Badge holders). There are strong arguments for workplace parking charges to be levied in all types of location, whether in the town centre or out of town sites”.(paragraphs 4.107 and 4.108).

The White Paper also promised legislation to “allow road user charging ... for example to help meet transport and environmental objectives in urban or rural areas, or on bottlenecks on specific roads or at certain times of the day or year” (paragraph 4.100).

Such plans have led the motor industry to describe the New Labour Government, in a strategy paper from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, as “no friend of the car” . Fear of annoying car users is believed to be a key reason why Tony Blair has refused to allow John Prescott an early Bill on his White Paper plans, which were repeatedly blocked and watered down by the No10 Policy Unit.

But the DETR now plans to use the Bill to establish the Greater London Authority to bring

in the charging plans for London only. The Mayor for London is to work with a new executive body “Transport for London”, which will manage transport services in London on a daily basis. The White Paper promised that transport charges would “generate extra revenue which could be used for the improvements in public transport that would be essential to cater for a significant modal shift in London” (paragraph 4.66).

Commenting, Friends of the Earth transport campaigner Roger Higman said:

“Environment Ministers are ingeniously trying to get round No 10 and bring in legislation on transport in London. But why should only London benefit while the rest of our cities and countryside continues to suffer? No10 has caved in to pressure from the planned new pro-car campaign before it has even started. Most people want action to cut traffic levels not just in the capital but across Britain. And they want it soon.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

An earlier proposal by officials to exempt MPs from workplace parking charges at Parliamentary car parks is now believed to have been abandoned on the instruction of DETR ministers.

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