Government backtracks on toll policy

The Government has gone back on its promise not to introduce tolls on existing 
roads with proposals to start charging for use of the A14 in Cambridgeshire.

Under the plans, drivers will have to pay to use a 20-mile stretch to help foot the bill for an upgrade package. But the move is controversial, as David Cameron had previously vowed not to charge for existing roads.

Back in March, the Prime Minister announced the Government was keen to attract foreign investment to create more privately funded routes like the M6 Toll. Foreign firms would put up the cash to build and maintain new roads, and in return they could charge motorists for use of them.

But Cameron was keen to stress that he was not looking to push through privatisation of Britain’s motorways ‘through the backdoor.’ At the time he said: “Road tolling is one option, but we are only considering this for new, not existing, capacity.”

The announcement of plans to charge for the A14 seems to mark a reversal of policy. The Department for Transport has now said that entire stretches of existing roads that have been “enhanced” can be tolled, rather than just additional lanes created as part of upgrades.