Taxi Driver Online

Birmingham Evening Mail

August 8, 2006, Tuesday

HEADLINE: Warning over road charges; 'Improvements needed before congestion tariffs'

BYLINE: Lee Kenny

MASSIVE improvements to the area's public transport will be needed before congestion charges are introduced in Birmingham, drivers warned today. The chances of motorists paying to drive into the city centre are growing after ministers proposed new powers to force local authorities to stem high levels of traffic. Birmingham has been linked to a congestion charge following the pounds 8 a car scheme imposed on London drivers.

In a leaked document, Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander proposed tolls on motorways and main roads in and out of built-up areas. But commuters heading into the city centre said huge improvements need to be made before the charges can be imposed.

Capital Express van driver Dean Silver, 34, comes into Birmingham every day. He said if congestion charges are imposed the cost will only be passed on to customers.

"We have four trucks going into London every day, that's pounds 32 a day we have to pay," he said. "We have had to include a central London surcharge on to the final cost, so it ultimately costs the customers more." Insurance worker Diana O'Rourke, 40, chooses to catch the train rather than drive in from Selly Oak every day.

She said public transport would have to be drastically overhauled before congestion charges could be introduced. "If it happens, it will only be the rich who can afford to come into the city centre," she said.

Taxi driver Abdul Khaliq, 46, from Castle Bromwich, said he has seen local roads become increasingly congested over 14 years but charges would have a negative impact on businesses.

"If it does happen, I think it will kill the city centre trade," he said. Kenneth Bullock, 66, has worked as a taxi driver in Birmingham for 34 years.

He said roads are congested but the solution was to introduce free park-and-ride services to keep people out of the city centre. "Everyone agrees we need to do something about the traffic but at the same time people are reluctant to leave their cars at home," he said. Delivery driver Ian Smith, 40, from Bearwood, said: "I think it's a bad idea. It is going to cost more for everybody not just drivers."

"If it costs more to drive into the city centre then it will cost more to get deliveries made. It's just an extra tax on drivers who already pay too much tax."

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