It seems increasingly likely that funds for road improvements will not be there to effect real investment in our infrastructure. The RHA will continue to fight for a better deal, not just for our members but for the benefit of UK plc. For without road investment there is a real fear that the UK economy will fail to grow as congestion bites even harder.
Okay so what alternatives are there?
One idea the RHA has we describe as Investment Tolling. Briefly this would mean handing a stretch of road over to a private company committed to up grading it and then allowing a pay back to be achieved over say a 25-year period via controlled tolls.
For example, the M42/A42 north of Birmingham. This stretch needs completing to a two-three-lane motorway standard. We will never see this happening under present arrangements but perhaps we could under our proposal.
Another candidate might be the A14 eastwards from its junction with the M1/M6.
Obviously there would need to be safeguards in terms of tolling rates - unlike the M6 Toll for instance, but we believe hauliers might be prepared to pay where no real alternative route was available.
So we would like to know if you support the RHA's proposal. We would also like to know what roads might be candidates for such an investment.
What's your opinion?
ROGER KING
Discussion Forum
Member Forum
