Lorely Listens w/e 2nd Sept

Written by Lorely Burt on Fri 2nd Sep 2005

Congestion charging: there's a hot potato for a subject. I can almost hear the sharp intake of breath of some readers at the thought.

Nevertheless I want to tell you about a proposed initiative for the West Midlands to be the pilot region for a national congestion charging scheme.

Firstly, let me reassure you that if we get to be the pilot region no one will be forced to participate in the scheme: it's voluntary.

So how would it work? There's no road tax and no tax on petrol. Since about 80% of the cost of a litre of petrol is tax, you can see that would be a big saving.

You would have a black box in your car which would enable the car's movements to be tracked by satellite navigation: the same principle as my vehicle satellite navigation system which I'd be literally lost without.

Then, if you travel on main roads during busy periods you pay more, but if you travel on minor roads off peak you pay less. So the occasional user who chooses to travel during quiet times, thus not contributing to congestion,would pay much less than a business person zooming up and down the M42/M6 all day.

It has been estimated that congestion in the West Midlands costs industry an amazing £2.4bn a month, let alone the cost of pollution in terms of our health and that of our planet.

There would be a financial incentive too. If the government chooses the West Midlands for the pilot we will also get £1.4bn over 10 years to develop better public transport and improve our travel infrastructure.

One benefit we could use this money for would be to introduce travel 'smart cards ' where you swipe your card when you get on the bus or buy a rail ticket. It's a bit like a phone card: you can top it up as needed. No more fishing for change and losing money if you haven't got the right amount.

If you lose your smart card or it's stolen you just cancel it: the amount you have paid is not lost. It would be ideal for school kids who wouldn't be losing their bus money all the time (or spending it on sweets or other even worse things!)

On the whole I think this pilot is well worth trying: it's not compulsory and what have we got to lose except congestion and pollution?

Tell me what you think at burtl@parliament.uk or write to me at House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.