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Business groups pan road pricing plans

Published On 23 May 2007 at 12:42:52

Groups which represent the interests of the UK's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have criticised the government's proposals to introduce road pricing schemes throughout the country.

A draft bill published earlier this week would allow local authorities to pilot schemes to charge businesses and the public to use roads.

However, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said that such trials would have a huge impact on the fortunes of the UK's SMEs.

"Small businesses cannot make deliveries or take heavy tools and equipment on the bus," explained Steve Collie, the FSB's transport chairman.

"Nor, given their tight profit margins and heavy competition from larger firms, can they absorb the costs or pass them on to their customers.

"Road tolls could prove to be a huge knock to the British economy and cost many jobs. The government needs to re-think its plans before it does irreversible damage to British businesses."

Similarly, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said that road pricing "must come as part of a wider strategy that includes more investment in transport infrastructure".

It added: "For road pricing to be practical, especially for the many firms that deliver goods throughout the UK, the government must ensure that there is proper coordination and consistency between any local pilot projects."

 

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