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PM’s fresh hope for UK motorists

Cameron coalition promises end to “war on motorists”, fuel price stabiliser on way, cut in speed cam funding

PM’s fresh hope for UK motorists

14th May 2010

The new coalition Government has promised to end the “war on motorists”, as the new Transport Secretary seemed to make good on the promise made to Auto Express columnist Mike Rutherford that Prime Minister David Cameron will be a “friend of the motorist”.

New Department for Transport boss Philip Hammond has confirmed the Government will follow up on Tory pro-motoring election pledges, promising to bring in a fuel price stabiliser, withdraw funding for new speed cameras and tackle dodgy clamping firms. And while tolls may be introduced on new roads, Hammond has ruled out road pricing for existing motorways. “Motoring has to get greener, but the car is not going to go away,” the Transport Secretary said.

Motoring groups reacted cautiously to Hammond’s pledges. The AA fears Conservative and Liberal Democrat support for costly high-speed rail links could take funds from road maintenance.

An AA spokesman said: “Spending cuts could affect the highways budget. The nation voted for cuts, but there’s already a backlog of maintenance work. We’ll see more potholes and possibly serious safety issues.”

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8 Comments

AA Spokesman

"The nation voted for cuts"

I don't recall a referendum saying "Do you want to vote for cuts or continue spending until the country is bankrupt?"

I think, no matter who people voted for, most realised that spending cuts were inevitable.

By sirwiggum on 20 May, 2010, 8:47am

Motorists avalanched by backsliding?


The Transport Secretary's local paper tells a different story:
http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/topstories/8174348.Baptism_of_fire_for_Runnymede_and_Weybridge_MP/
Mr Hammond still found time to announce plans to privatise motorways and trunk roads funded by tolls.

And bang goes the fuel duty stabiliser?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/7747222/Higher-taxes-on-holidays-marriage-and-driving.html
The coalition agreement also pledged to increase the proportion of tax raised from green levies. Conservative plans to cut fuel duty when oil prices are high have been abandoned, leading to fears that motorists will be targeted

By brianthelion on 21 May, 2010, 11:02pm

les

"Hammond has ruled out road pricing for existing motorways"
Lets hope he removes the toll fees and booths at the Dartford River Crossing.
It will reduce the congestion and pollution and help the economy, if properly managed.
This should have happened in 2003 by a voting system that was undemocratically arranged by the biggest unaccountable organisation in the country. The Highways Agency.
Labour wanted to sell-off the DRC.
Now is the time to put an end to this and to users paying an extra tax of at least £50 million pound a year.

By lcorderoy on 25 May, 2010, 7:47am

Politicians - huh!!

Cameron is a politician as is Hammond - lying is as natural to them as breathing. They would have promised anything to get into power. Now they are in the promises go in the discard bin as usual. Couple this with Cleggs view on motoring and we can expect to be taxed yet further for having to travel. The roads and infrastructure will be sold to overseas companies who will also make us pay through the nose until the UK collapses in on itself amidst the dust of a totally trashed transport infrastructure.
Emmigration has never looked so appealing!!

By 3hobbits on 25 May, 2010, 8:35am

They don't have any money

Liam Byrne left a note for David Laws that said 'There is no money left'.

Whatever the want to do they won't be able to do for many years.

By IronChicken on 25 May, 2010, 8:52am

Old boy network is still in place!

Liam byrne and his treasury mates should be done for fraud. They leave a note, and only mention when they get voted out, that there is no money left. Cheeky! And with people losing homes and jobs it's not even funny.

Surely if there was no money left they should have said something sooner? If you trade whilst insolvent the government would have you for trading illeagally, why should Labour's cabinet and all senior ministers be treated differently. One rule for them and a harsher reality for the rest of us!

By Focus_your_mind on 25 May, 2010, 11:56am

philby

All I have ever wanted is a FAIR deal my road fund tax should pay for any road repairs not speeding fines as these go to the treasury not local councils. I for one will vote for anyone that comes up with Curbs on fuel, camera fines in unneccessary places and clamping firms. They talk the talk lets see if they can walk the walk as well.

By shad25 on 25 May, 2010, 9:17pm

Speed bump £4000, how many did your council lay?



QUOTE :Liam byrne and his treasury mates should be done for fraud. They leave a note, and only mention when they get voted out, that there is no money left. Cheeky! And with people losing homes and jobs it's not even funny.

The whole Labour cabinet should be in the dock for what they have done to our country, and it's infrastructure.

Let’s not forget !!

The motorists voted them in, and the motorists kept them in, and so accepted government, and their own local councils policies of spending thousands of pounds on speed bumps, and cameras, while leaving potholes in our roads

By Bobbybev on 28 May, 2010, 8:10pm

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