A congestion charge mess

Published on Wed 16th Apr 2008

The congestion charge in London

Judith Lubbock writes on the confusion over Conservative and Labour policies on congestion charging.

Dear Editor,

I read with interest the mess that both the Conservative and Labour parties seem to have got themselves into over the issue of road pricing in Norwich (Calls to dump congestion charge study Evening News 25/03/08).

The Conservative group at County Hall support the £500,000 government study into road pricing. A mile or so up the road at City Hall, the Conservative group vehemently oppose it. The Tories are confused and split.

The Labour Party in Norwich originally supported their government's study. The study is now 80% complete, the majority of the £500,000 has been spent and officers are due to report back in 4-6 weeks. With all this money and time invested, Labour has now committed a u-turn and want the report scrapped and do not want to hear the findings. This means that all the work and resources invested will be for nothing. The Norwich Labour party is effectively throwing taxpayers money down the drain and opposing a report instigated by their own government.

With the finance and manpower invested in the study it would be grossly irresponsible to scrap it just as it is about to conclude. We need to wait until it is finished and then take on board the findings. The Liberal Democrats believe that it would be wrong for Norwich to introduce congestion charging. It will remain wrong unless there is a fundamental shift in transport policy. Congestion charging can not be introduced until public transport is a viable alternative to cars, until it can be proved that road pricing would not damage Norwich business and jobs and not until a full and genuine public consultation has taken place. However, we do need to take on board the report and move on with a clear and considered evidence based strategy. This is exactly what Labour and the Conservatives seem incapable of doing.

Judith Lubbock

Eaton Councillor