More toll roads planned

Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander is seeking powers to impose toll roads across the UK, according to reports.

In a leaked letter obtained by the Sunday Times, Mr Alexander spells out plans for a bill to be introduced next year to pave the way for the widespread use of tolls to combat road congestion.

At present, it is up to local authorities to propose road-charging schemes - such as London's congestion charge - for approval by ministers.

But in his letter, Mr Alexander argues that he should be able to set national standards and prices to prevent the confusion that would result if different cities adopted differing schemes.

Unlike the flat-rate daily charge imposed by Mayor Ken Livingstone in London, Mr Alexander's programme would see motorists charged on a pay-as-you-go basis, with hi-tech black boxes in their cars recording how far they have driven on stretches of toll road.

The letter to Leader of the Commons Jack Straw, dated July 20, makes clear that Mr Alexander is considering imposing charges not just in city centres but also on trunk roads.

"The main purpose of the bill would be to support our efforts to cut congestion and improve public transport, particularly in the major cities outside London," he wrote.

"It would also help to pave the way for a national road-pricing scheme in the medium to long term.

"I would propose reforming the current arrangements for approving local road-pricing schemes, providing better targeted powers to ensure that schemes are consistent with a national framework and are inter-operable, and ensuring an appropriate framework governing the setting of prices and the use of resources.

"Current legislation offers very limited powers for pricing on the trunk road network outside of the area of a local scheme. We are considering pilots on the trunk road network as an important stage towards national road-pricing."