Charlotte Leslie calls for vote on road tax
06 July 2007
An online petition calling for a local debate over proposals to introduce a road congestion charge pilot scheme in Bristol is being launched today by Charlotte Leslie
An online petition calling for a local debate over proposals to introduce a road congestion charge pilot scheme in Bristol is being launched today by Charlotte Leslie, the Conservative's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bristol North West.
You can sign the road tax referendum petition here.
Bristol is one of a number of cities that have been earmarked nationwide as possible locations for congestion charges to be introduced, initially on a trial basis.
The proposals, similar to the controversial scheme already in place across central London, would see motorists charged up to £1.34 a mile to use inner city roads.
In response, Charlotte Leslie, the Conservative's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bristol North West, has established an online petition calling for a referendum on congestion charging in the city before the scheme is given final approval in the Council House, as well as taking her petition to the streets.
It calls for a full and frank discussion by the people of Bristol over whether the plans would help ease traffic congestion, or if any such schemes would prove ineffectual without the introduction of better public transport links within the city.
The petition, which has been launched on the Bristol City Council website, reads: "We, the undersigned, call on Bristol City Council to hold a referendum for Bristol citizens on a road-congestion scheme, before any pilot scheme is introduced."
Commenting on the launch of the petition, Charlotte said: "Bristol people should have the say on what Bristol people would have to pay.
"There are strong arguments for road tolls - reducing carbon emissions is a priority and we must find ways to reduce Bristol's terrible peak-time traffic congestion.
"But it is unfair to charge people to use the roads while our public transport is so inadequate. And until we have decent busses, trains and cycle lanes, it is unlikely people will get out of their cars. Instead of reducing carbon emissions, it could simply push more traffic congestion out into areas of Bristol like Westbury-on-Trym, Henleaze, Stoke Bishop and Horfield and make it even harder to park outside the Congestion zone.
We need a major public debate on the issues involved. The public must have confidence that their money would be spent well. We need co-operation across Local Authority boundaries for an effective public transport strategy. A Greater Bristol Transport Authority, equivalent to Transport for London, might be the only way to guarantee that our public transport does improve. But either way, there are questions that need to be answered and a referendum is a prime opportunity to raise them."
Councillor. Dr. Barbara Lewis, Conservative Transport Spokesman , is bringing a motion to the next meeting of full Council, on 24th July, to propose that such a referendum be agreed by Councillors. The motion will read: "Council notes that Bristol has been chosen by Central Government to be a pilot for the possible introduction of congestion charging in the city.
"Council re-affirms its opposition to the introduction of any such scheme prior to substantial improvements to existing public transport provision. Council believes that it would be fundamentally unfair to levy road tolls or require the motorist to 'pay as you drive' when, for many people, there is no viable alternative to the car.
Council calls on the Leader of Council and the Executive Member for Access & Environment to give a commitment that before introducing any congestion charges on motorists, they will hold a referendum on the proposal in Bristol."
All are welcome to attend.
Earlier this year The Department for Transport published its guide for local authorities on introducing Local Road Pricing Schemes.
In response, Chris Grayling, Shadow Transport Secretary, reiterated the need for local road pricing schemes to be decided locally. At the time, he said: "I think it is important that the Government isn't seen to be blackmailing local communities into adopting congestion charges against their will. Local schemes are fine but only if they are decided on and set up locally."