'No way we'll go for road tolls' (From Witney Gazette)

'No way we'll go for road tolls'

THE man in charge of transport policy in Oxfordshire has said traffic congestion is going to get "much worse" - but has refused to consider congestion or road charging as a solution.

No charging: David Robertson

The Government announced drivers could pay up to £1.34 a mile in 'pay-as-you go' road charges aimed at cutting congestion.

Satellite technology fitted to every car would track journeys, with prices starting from 2p per mile in rural areas, increasing to £1.34 on motorways at peak times.

But David Robertson, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for transport, said motorists had to expect congestion as a fact of life - and pricing people off the road was not the answer.

He said: "The real difficulty is the A34 and A40, but there doesn't seem to be an innovative thinking other than 'let's price people off the road'.

"In 1964 a journey from Edinburgh to Oxford used to take 12 hours - it now takes six but people get extremely frustrated because it might take seven-and-a-half-hours."

Mr Robertson said rush-hour traffic congestion in Oxfordshire was "dire" but added: "If you travel after 9am and before 4pm you will not have any problems.

"If the technology was available you could deliver road pricing during the hours of 7am-10am then use that money to provide much better quality public transport.

"This Government seems to think it's a good idea, but it would be utter chaos."