As the consultation closes on the Draft Local Transport Bill we are calling on Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly not to relinquish the power to approve how revenue from local road-user charging is spent. We fear that, without that safeguard, local authorities will exploit charging schemes as a general revenue raiser.
Unless local authorities are obliged to spend money from road-charging schemes on improving accessibility for customers it will become just another general tax and the viability of retail outlets in charging zones will be compromised.
Around 60 per cent of all shopping trips are made by car. It is the most convenient form of transport for the majority of people. Shoppers will simply go somewhere else unless they see direct benefits from any new road charges they are called on to pay.
We also believe Ruth Kelly must retain the power to approve the schemes themselves. Failure to do that could lead to a town-by-town free for all, creating a chaotic range of incompatible schemes which would be a particular nightmare for national retailers attempting to service stores across the country.
What retailers need is consistency and schemes that produce real gains for retailers, customers and the wider community. National government oversight is crucial to making sure this happens.
Dr Kevin Hawkins O.B.E., director general, British Retail Consortium
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