PROPOSALS TO IMPLEMENT FAR-REACHING PRIVATISATION OF BRITISH ROADS

As the British government searches for new ways to reduce government debt and boost the economy, their sights have turned to Britain's roads. Already, there are several examples of privately-controlled roads and infrastructure in the UK, e.g. numerous British bridges require a toll to cross. However, there are suggestions that this would be a far more widespread phenomenon with Britain's roads.

I think this would be a very bad and unpopular idea for two reasons. Firstly, when drivers are stopped to pay for the tolls, it may only take 30 seconds, but it's long enough to cause long traffic jams, hindering commuters' progress on the roads. It strikes me that the prolonging of a journey would also have an environmental impact.

Secondly, there are frustrating costs involved: if this is implemented, I can foresee that, as roads would not be completely owned by the private or public sectors, that the public would be charged twice to travel on roads: once for road tax, then again at the tolls. To try and lessen the blow, I can imagine that they would reduce road tax temporarily, but that would rise again in the future; while tolls would also continue to rise, without accountability to the public to prevent it.

We do need to raise more money, but this is not a good idea. Please think again!