National road pricing scheme to be scrapped
Date: 16 October 2007
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The government is to scrap plans for a national road pricing scheme that would have significantly impacted on couriers and other freight haulage drivers.
Following pressure from drivers and a Downing Street petition with 1.8 million signatories, ministers are set to go back on their plans, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Former transport secretary Douglas Alexander had pushed for the Local Transport Bill, which would have led to drivers - including courier drivers - paying to use the nation's roads.
However, the Department for Transport (DfT) is now set to tell MPs: "It is not the department's intention, at this stage, to take the separate powers needed to price the national road network."
The government believes that reducing congestion in urban areas should be the priority, with local authorities given the power to decide whether or not to reduce congestion charging schemes in their own areas.
C-charge schemes could be on the cards for cities such as Manchester and Leeds, which are taking their cue from London.
These plans would seriously damage courier companies as they would be forced to shoulder an extra financial burden.
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