Motorists face being charged up to £4 a day to use roads in the Black Country. Congestion charges will be unveiled this week which, if implemented, would revolutionise travel on the roads.
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A report due to be unveiled on Friday is expected to call for a series of up to five toll zones to be strung across the West Midlands.
The four Black Country councils, together with Birmingham City Council, Solihull, and Coventry, will announce the findings of a feasibility study ordered by the Government into road charging in the region.
Options to be unveiled include:
* Motorists entering or passing through Birmingham city centre being charged as much as £3 or £4 a day
* A charge of up to £1 for driving into the Black Country zones of Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell and Dudley
* An alternative plan to force motorists to pay up to £1.30 a mile as part of a variable scheme taking in an area from Wolverhampton to Coventry.
The suggestions have been made in light of the London congestion scheme, where motorists are currently charged £8 a day.
Drivers entering and leaving the West Midlands zones would have their number plates checked by cameras or mileage could be measured by hi-tech cards attached to car windscreens.
But the technology for such a scheme to succeed is not yet proven, and such a system would be certain to raise objections from civil liberties campaigners concerned about ‘Big Brother’ intrusion into people’s private motoring.
Business leaders in the Black Country have also voiced worries over the effects of congestion charges on retailers and others needing to transport goods and services across the region.
A recent survey by the West Midlands Business Council and the Institute of Chartered Accountants showed opposition to a blanket charge per mile.
The West Midlands study will be sent to the Department for Transport for consideration.
What do you think of the plans? Would you pay to drive your daily route?
Your views:
“I think this is just another way of the council raising money, and has no bearing on ‘congestion’. The council should look at where they are spending their money - namely benefits - and lobby the government to put in tighter measures to get people off benefits and in work, instead of imposing another type of tax on those that come into the cities to actually work!! I will refuse to pay! “ Mrs S Evans Wolverhampton
“If the councils want to implement such charges, then look at the public transport networks. I used to use the tram to commute to Wolverhampton, but now that a return ticket per day costs nearly £4.00 its just as cheap for me to travel by car and more reliable. I would be more inclined to use the Metro Service and I’m sure many other people would if they offered a reliable service. “ Naomi Greenhalgh, West Bromwich
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