Road charging to hit villages?
Small towns and villages will suffer most under the Government's proposed road charging scheme, the Association of British Drivers (ABD) has warned.
The ABD said that, because congested roads will be charged the most, drivers will seek to avoid charges by taking alternative routes along country lanes and through smaller towns and villages. The group said that it was urging rural communities and vulnerable road users such as walkers, cyclists and horse riders to speak out now against road charging proposals before the plans become law.
ABD policy director Mark McArthur-Christie said: "Road charging will be levied at its highest on the most congested roads. It will be impossible for drivers to know if a road is congested until they are on it, sitting in a traffic jam with no escape route whilst the black box in their car clocks up pound signs for the chancellor.
"Many will not wish to take the risk and will of course seek alternative routes. Unfortunately for villagers and users of quiet country lanes, these will very often be the routes they seek out causing a massive increase in traffic levels."
The ABD urged members of rural communities who may be affected to join the 680,000 who have already signed the petition against road charging (see link below).
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