The UK really bugs me!

[ajr]

I've just got this off yahoo news.


Congestion charge 'for more cities'

Britain's biggest cities will be running London-style congestion charging schemes by 2011, it has been forecast.

And nationwide road tolling could be introduced as early as 2015, according to Autocar magazine.

Such a system was likely to use GPS satellite tracking or DSRC (Digital Short Range Communications) which uses microwaves to communicate with roadside beacons.

Both systems would require all vehicles to be fitted with an in-car kit that will cost around ?30 per car.

Autocar said that merely administering the nationwide system would cost around ?23 billion.

This figure does not include fitting every car with the technology, or the "billions that will be required for the thousands of roadside beacons", the magazine added.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling has already announced that plans are being looked at under which motorists could pay up to ?1.34 a mile to drive at the busiest times.

Rob Aherne, Autocar editor, said: "If you live in or near a major city, keep an eye on your local newspaper because a congestion charge in one form or another will be on its way very soon.

"The introduction of road charging will dramatically affect the way of life for a huge number of people, especially those who live in the countryside or just cannot afford to live near their place of work. Road charging could affect many people's quality of life."


I like living here but everything is just so expensive it already costs me over ?45 a week in petrol just to get to work, I don't have an expensive car just an 8yr old Toyota. Petrol is now ?0.91 a litre. The congestion charge is now ?8 a day, luckily I'm just outside the zone. Where will it end!

I've travelled quite a bit and lived abroad for a while, but there is nowhere quite like London (the people the culture) but I think its time to move on to a different country.

I'd be interested to hear what other people think.

Andy

[beermonster]

mate?i couldnt agree more.

it's tax tax tax with labour isnt it?arent we already tolled for using roads? its called "fuel tax".

i live 12 miles from my work. if a road toll comes in <presumably to encourage people to use public transport and not to generate extra revenue for the politicians to waste> i'm knackered. We have 2 buses through here during the day, and neither go to this reasonably sized, and certainly large employing, town.

maybe these tolls will be on major roads? motorways n the like?in which case i'm ok because by taking a detour of 6 miles i can avoid the A1 motorway. Ok, i'll increase my cars emissions with the extra mileage, but i'll avoid the toll. Oh, hang on?the increased cost of fuel will surpass the toll charges anyway?damm - plan foiled.

surely if we all used public transport we'd all be late for work because of these archaic busses and trains getting overloaded, over worked and understaffed, and running late, sitting in traffic <bus> jams and moving at 52 miles an hour flat out <dont mention exhaust emmissions again ok>. so if we're all late for work the economy will suffer too?jeez?the 50 million gained in toll charges is offset against the 4 billion lost in the economy?ohhh boy - another plan foiled.

i quite fancy new zealand

[Montoid]

We live on a relatively small and crowded island, how do you suggest we address the very real problem of congestion. Gridlock's coming, baby!

(try cycling to work like me, it's great! Although I do drive my old volvo in the winter. I think we should all get motorbikes, cars are shit boring anyway) :P

[willisnr]

i quite fancy new zealand

Sounds like a good plan.. public transport in the uk is absolutely diabolical. Bring in more road charges and I think a lot of people will be thinking about leaving.

Anyone with a surname like "Darling" should not be in charge of anything anyway...

[Montoid]

yeah, good idea, the more people leave, the less cars on the road!

[beermonster]

not to mention increased jet airplane emissions with the mess exodus 8O

[Montoid]

:lol: I hope that was a typo! :lol: [/quote]

[beermonster]

ops:

dah!!


mass exodus?? :?

[prepress_brillance_43]

an exodus of the sort would surely be a mess as well though.

[beermonster]

oh enough already :lol:

mess - mass - ohh bloody keyboard, i blame mavis beacon :?