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Do it now and spend the money on transport
8 December 1998
Government proposals to charge motorists for driving into town and city centres, set out in a new document "Breaking the Logjam" are welcome. But it's time for action NOW, according to Friends of the Earth. Mr Prescott couldn't persuade Mr Blair to include Transport White Paper plans in the last Queen's Speech. FOE has previously described the process of issuing continuous discussion documents without legislation as "a farce called Carry on Consulting".
FOE supports plans for congestion charging and a levy on non-residential parking. But it has attacked a key phrase in the document which states that "although it is proposed that transport will have first call on the revenue stream from charging schemes, legislation will not restrict expenditure entirely to transport-related matters".
Roger Higman, Friends of the Earth's Transport Campaigner, said:
"Mr Prescott is right to want to charge motorists for driving and parking in city centres. What a pity he couldn't convince Mr Blair to get on and actually do it. The charging plans are included in the new Bill for a London Mayor. But if it's good enough for London, why won't it do for everywhere else? And if the money from these charges doesn't all get spent on transport they could lose all credibility."
Friends of the Earth have also criticised the Government's proposals to charge drivers for using motorways.
Roger Higman added:
"Charging drivers for using motorways may force some traffic, especially lorries, onto less appropriate roads to avoid the charge. If we must have lorries, they're better on motorways than rumbling through towns and villages".
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jul 2008
