Member Article

Road privatisation back on the agenda

Toll roads could become commonplace across the UK, as the Government are expected to set out proposals in the new year.

Following the Chancellor’s mention of a feasibility study into toll roads in his Autumn speech, it looks likely that further tolls could be approved.

A report from think-tank Civitas suggests the Treasury could stand to make £100bn from the privatisation of motorways; money which could be used to eliminate motoring taxes.

Earlier in the year David Cameron talked of opening up British infrastructure to investment, but stressed that no existing roads would become tolled.

So far the A14 in Cambridgeshire is the first proposed toll road within the latest tranche of national road building schemes, and research into pricing has just been carried out.

The first British toll road was the M6 which opened in late 2003 with the aim to reduce congestion around Birmingham.

Since its opening, Australian owner Macquarrie Infrastructure Group (MIG) has incrementally increased the price, and now the road is one of the most expensive stretches of toll motorway in Europe.

The deal struck between the then Labour Government (established by Conservatives) allowed Macquarrie to operate a toll on the road for 50 years before it reverted to public ownership.

Crucially, the firm were given free reign to set toll prices with no cap in place. Such features have angered anti-toll campaigners and motoring groups. Let us know what you think about the idea in the comments below.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .