A million motorists embarrass road price ministers
Discussion
A million motorists embarrass road price ministers
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1361944.ece
Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent
The Government is to press ahead with preparations for nationwide congestion charging despite the millionth signature on a petition opposing the idea.
An experiment in internet democracy, in which people were invited to place petitions on the No 10 website and vote for them by e-mail, has embarrassed ministers.
The petition calling on the Government “to scrap the vehicle tracking and road-pricing policy” was due to gain its millionth signature last night, less than three months after it was posted on the website.
It received 92,000 signatures on Wednesday alone, thought to be a record for a single day.
Douglas Alexander, the Transport Secretary, said last night that the signatures showed the strength of feeling among motorists but would not deter him from commissioning large-scale road-pricing trials.
In an interview with The Times, he said that many of the claims made by those promoting the petition were “falsehoods”. He promised that there would be safeguards to protect motorists’ privacy and that the system would not be used to catch drivers speeding.
Both these claims were made in an e-mail supporting the petition sent by members of the Association of British Drivers, a hardline motoring group. The e-mail told people to pass it on and millions have received it in the past few weeks.
Mr Alexander said: “The response to this petition makes the case for more debate, not less, on the issue of road pricing. It makes me more determined to debate the real issues about how we tackle growing congestion.
“I understand there are strong feelings on this issue but strong feelings alone are no substitute for considering how we tackle the challenge of congestion.
“The e-mail that has been circulated more reflects misplaced fears than facts.”
Mr Alexander said that no decision had been made on whether to introduce a national scheme but he said that regional trials would start in four or five years’ time. Manchester and Birmingham are understood to be the front-runners for the trials.
Sir Rod Eddington’s report on the future of transport in Britain strongly supported the idea of nationwide congestion charging, which the Department for Transport has calculated could result in tolls of £1.28 a mile on the busiest roads in peak periods.
Mr Alexander did not offer assurances that the scheme would not raise the overall tax burden on motorists.
He said: “I cannot anticipate future decisions that will have implications in many budgets ahead. But the suggestion that every driver would pay more is simply wrong.”
He hinted that any increase in motoring taxes would be small and that other motoring taxes would be reduced.
He criticised the wording of the petition for suggesting that drivers’ movements would be monitored. He said: “If we were proposing what the petition suggests, I would share the concerns. Any system, to secure support, would need to address the issue of personal privacy.”
Peter Roberts, a car parts salesman and a founder of the petition group from Worcestershire, said that it had succeeded far beyond expectations.
Richard Hammond, the Top Gear presenter who survived a high-speed crash, said he would support the petition this week.
He said: “Are we prepared to be taxed for the privilege of going about our business?”
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1361944.ece
Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent
The Government is to press ahead with preparations for nationwide congestion charging despite the millionth signature on a petition opposing the idea.
An experiment in internet democracy, in which people were invited to place petitions on the No 10 website and vote for them by e-mail, has embarrassed ministers.
The petition calling on the Government “to scrap the vehicle tracking and road-pricing policy” was due to gain its millionth signature last night, less than three months after it was posted on the website.
It received 92,000 signatures on Wednesday alone, thought to be a record for a single day.
Douglas Alexander, the Transport Secretary, said last night that the signatures showed the strength of feeling among motorists but would not deter him from commissioning large-scale road-pricing trials.
In an interview with The Times, he said that many of the claims made by those promoting the petition were “falsehoods”. He promised that there would be safeguards to protect motorists’ privacy and that the system would not be used to catch drivers speeding.
Both these claims were made in an e-mail supporting the petition sent by members of the Association of British Drivers, a hardline motoring group. The e-mail told people to pass it on and millions have received it in the past few weeks.
Mr Alexander said: “The response to this petition makes the case for more debate, not less, on the issue of road pricing. It makes me more determined to debate the real issues about how we tackle growing congestion.
“I understand there are strong feelings on this issue but strong feelings alone are no substitute for considering how we tackle the challenge of congestion.
“The e-mail that has been circulated more reflects misplaced fears than facts.”
Mr Alexander said that no decision had been made on whether to introduce a national scheme but he said that regional trials would start in four or five years’ time. Manchester and Birmingham are understood to be the front-runners for the trials.
Sir Rod Eddington’s report on the future of transport in Britain strongly supported the idea of nationwide congestion charging, which the Department for Transport has calculated could result in tolls of £1.28 a mile on the busiest roads in peak periods.
Mr Alexander did not offer assurances that the scheme would not raise the overall tax burden on motorists.
He said: “I cannot anticipate future decisions that will have implications in many budgets ahead. But the suggestion that every driver would pay more is simply wrong.”
He hinted that any increase in motoring taxes would be small and that other motoring taxes would be reduced.
He criticised the wording of the petition for suggesting that drivers’ movements would be monitored. He said: “If we were proposing what the petition suggests, I would share the concerns. Any system, to secure support, would need to address the issue of personal privacy.”
Peter Roberts, a car parts salesman and a founder of the petition group from Worcestershire, said that it had succeeded far beyond expectations.
Richard Hammond, the Top Gear presenter who survived a high-speed crash, said he would support the petition this week.
He said: “Are we prepared to be taxed for the privilege of going about our business?”
bob1179 said:
Sums it all up really doesn't it?
Utter, utter wankers.
These vicious, foul, Livingstonettes have nothing less than the destruction of Albion in mind: afaic, they are traitors, literally.
I watched that astounding mound of hypocrisy (the MP for Hackney) against VBH on 'This Week' on Thursday night gone: she, like the thronging commies who seem installed upon councils the length and breadth of the country, is simply insane.
Straight out of The Church of KL, her extreme socialism has left her entirely blind as to the requirements for working people and the wider economy thereafter, in a naturally transport hungry economy.
One can only hope for an interplanetary alignment resulting in a sequence of the most bizzare gardening mishaps...
The problem we really have is that this government will spend VAST amounts of cash on this ridiculous scheme that every normal person in the UK hates.
Because of this, whichever government we vote in next will have no choice in carrying on with this artrocity that has been set in motion.
Somthing pretty drastic has to be done to curb this government.
Because of this, whichever government we vote in next will have no choice in carrying on with this artrocity that has been set in motion.
Somthing pretty drastic has to be done to curb this government.
About Mr Alexander
His entire CV is him reacting to things, as I can see it, he's never done anything in his life. It seems that His Tonyness has decide to throw him to the Wolves.
His entire CV is him reacting to things, as I can see it, he's never done anything in his life. It seems that His Tonyness has decide to throw him to the Wolves.
Secretary of State for the Defying of Democracy said:
There would be safeguards to protect motorists’ privacy and that the system would not be used to catch drivers speeding.
He then contradicted himself and said:
“I cannot anticipate future decisions that will have implications in many budgets ahead.
the little weasel then said:
“I understand there are strong feelings on this issue but strong feelings alone are no substitute for considering how we tackle the challenge of congestion.
How about starting to "tackle the challenge of congestion" by reversing the idiotic Government policies that increase congestion, such as speed bumps, bus lanes, uncontrolled roadworks, dysfunctional traffic light phasing, and building-out of pavements? And that's not to mention the Government policies that positively encourage population growth.
flemke said:
Secretary of State for the Defying of Democracy said:
There would be safeguards to protect motorists’ privacy and that the system would not be used to catch drivers speeding.
He then contradicted himself and said:
“I cannot anticipate future decisions that will have implications in many budgets ahead.
the little weasel then said:
“I understand there are strong feelings on this issue but strong feelings alone are no substitute for considering how we tackle the challenge of congestion.
How about starting to "tackle the challenge of congestion" by reversing the idiotic Government policies that increase congestion, such as speed bumps, bus lanes, uncontrolled roadworks, dysfunctional traffic light phasing, and building-out of pavements? And that's not to mention the Government policies that positively encourage population growth.
great post!! the sheer arrogance, and in the face of 1,000,000 disgruntled voters,
democracy? can i go now please?
princeperch said:
can I assume everyone, like I have just done, is going to contact him by email to tell him what a pathetic waste of skin he is?
I think a fax/letter/e-mail advising that he won't get voted for in the next election will soon change his mind......Can all his constituents do that!??!?!
Just sent this email:
Dear Mr. Alexander,
It is with great frustration that I read your comments in today’s Times, dismissing the nationwide uproar against your proposed road pricing scheme.
I note that your argument against the 1million epetition signatures is to claim that it is based on “falsehoods”. I put it to you that it is your responsibility to ensure that the public understand what problem you are trying to solve, what solutions you have considered, what solution you propose and why it will solve the original problem. To date you have not done this.
I also note your promise that there would be “safeguards to protect motorists’ privacy and that the system would not be used to catch drivers speeding”. Please advise what these ‘safeguards’ will be? I’d also like to know how you consider tracking every vehicle not to be an invasion of privacy?
Based on the record of this Government, I cannot bring myself to believe any of your promises. In fact, I dismiss them as “falsehoods”.
I look forward to your responses to my questions.
Kind regards,
Iain Groom
I shall post any response I get.
Dear Mr. Alexander,
It is with great frustration that I read your comments in today’s Times, dismissing the nationwide uproar against your proposed road pricing scheme.
I note that your argument against the 1million epetition signatures is to claim that it is based on “falsehoods”. I put it to you that it is your responsibility to ensure that the public understand what problem you are trying to solve, what solutions you have considered, what solution you propose and why it will solve the original problem. To date you have not done this.
I also note your promise that there would be “safeguards to protect motorists’ privacy and that the system would not be used to catch drivers speeding”. Please advise what these ‘safeguards’ will be? I’d also like to know how you consider tracking every vehicle not to be an invasion of privacy?
Based on the record of this Government, I cannot bring myself to believe any of your promises. In fact, I dismiss them as “falsehoods”.
I look forward to your responses to my questions.
Kind regards,
Iain Groom
I shall post any response I get.
I think that the only way forward is a massed protest IN PERSON via road blockades, boycots, marches or whatever else it takes to get not only this but all issues affecting motorists into the public eye - and for us to be portrayed as a respectable pillar of community not a far right, baby murdering, puppy shagging bunch of loonies.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff