Road Pricing
The government is reported to be considering the introduction of road pricing on top of all the other massive costs that motorists are currently enduring. I am consistent in arguing for more investment in our rail service. I believe not only that we should be looking at the case for opening and re-opening stations but also for opening and re-opening lines. Now, that said, Britain currently faces about the highest costs for motoring in the world and any such road tolls will, of course, increase the cost of essentials like food which are inevitably moved by road for part at least of their journey.
Wales already suffers massively and disproportionately from the toll on the Severn Bridge. As a committed Unionist who believes strongly in fighting Wales’ corner there is a very strong case for revisiting this toll which is detrimental to Welsh and I believe British interests.
It serves to accentuate a border within Britain as if to stress the separateness of Wales when such a bridge (or more correctly bridges) should serve to underline our unity. That is not in our interest as a Union.
Nor is it in Wales’ interests to deter movement into South Wales with the tolls inevitably rising remorselessly as they do. There are few tolls on British roads certainly at the level of this one.
