Council's gamble with our roads

Newsdesk • Published 8 Oct 2009 13:00 2 Comments

ALMOST nobody wants congestion charging. It angers drivers, worries businesses and hits commuters hard.

Cyclists, bus users and rich motorists could benefit from clearer roads - but only if the charge succeeds in altering driving patterns rather than just being a cash-cow.

It seems bonkers that charging has cross-party support in Reading when it is so unpopular - until you consider the sheer scale of the riches that the Government will shower on towns that agree to it.

Reading stands to get nearly a third of a billion pounds for buses, trains, park and ride schemes and better roads. But vitally, it is also the first council in the country likely to win its case that only if its 50-plus other congestion-busting plans fail must it implement road pricing, and not until 2016 at the earliest.

If it works, it could revolutionise transport in Reading without the bitter pill.

The council's plans are not universally loved, especially in the villages to the north and west, but more and cheaper buses, four new park and rides, new station buildings and a third Thames bridge are sensible ideas.

But if Reading fails to pull it off, or the Government stance hardens - not unlikely as its budgets plunge to cope with the debt crisis - then we could be left with nothing. Or, even worse, congestion charging.

No matter which cordon is picked and the operational hours, it will hit town centre businesses, put people off shopping here and prompt daytrippers to think again.

If the council really can prise £313m out of a bankrupt Government without implementing congestion charging in return, then all power to its elbow - but it is playing a dangerous game.

- For an exclusive map showing who will be affected by congestion charging if it comes in, see this week's Reading Chronicle, on sale from Thursday, October 8.

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• 

  Joe Bloggs
  Unregistered User
  Oct 8, 14:07
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  Let's watch the business move out of Reading when this comes into effect.........
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  susie
  Unregistered User
  Oct 10, 17:32
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  That is the worry, isn't it. but things aren't working that well as they are now! my plan is a congestion charge for OTHER people...
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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