Transport

Conservative & Labour Liberal Democrats
The Conservative free-market approach has proved woefully inadequate for transport in the UK.

Bus deregulation has led to a chaotic and unreliable service, pollution from transport is rising sharply, while road congestion costs industry an estimated £18 billion a year..

Labour have promised to spend more without raising taxes. John Prescott, the Deputy Prime minister has promised expensive grandiose schemes, but his colleague Margaret Beckett once dismissed investment in transport as "something we hope to do as resources allow" (15.2.90). 

Public investment in railways in appalling, with only £1 billion per year in the UK compared to £4 billion in Italy. Passengers in the UK having to fund the costs of the railway system through rocketing train fares.

 Liberal Democrats will fund a more frequent, cheaper and environmentally sustainable public transport system. We would:
  • Invest in public transport, transferring Government investment from road-building to the railways.
  • Allow local councils to introduce road pricing for congested urban areas, so motorists pay for the environmental and social costs they cause (the money raised would be directed into public transport).
  • Graduate both Vehicle Excise Duty and Company Car Tax by the fuel efficiency of the vehicle, creating incentives to buy more energy-efficient cars.
  • Subject transport operators to independent regulation to protect the environment and maintain universality of provision.
  • Expand regional airports outside South East England.
  • Increase the powers of the Civil Aviation Authority to prevent anti-competitive practices by airlines or airports.
  • Reacquire a controlling interest in Railtrack to enable the strategic development of the rail infrastructure.
  • Allow local authorities to decide what bus services are needed.
  • Plan transport with the community, so the system meets the real needs of the people.
  • Introduce a long term approach to planning, aimed at reducing the need for individuals to travel long distances to reach workplaces, leisure facilities and services.

 

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Facts & Figures.

  • Cars cost the economy up to £17 billion a year in terms of infrastructure, accidents and other quantified environmental costs. Revenue raised from cars do not cover this amount, falling short by 400 million.
  • Cars cost the economy even further in unquantifiable terms such as, loss of land, destruction of habitats and so on.
  • Traffic congestion cost Britain £19 billion a year. There are other costs in terms of pollution causing health problems such as asthma.
  • A third of fatal accidents is caused by speeding. One sixth is caused by drink driving.

Questions & Answers.

Q.
You say how bad congestion is, yet you want to scale down the government's road programme?.
A.
Building new roads only creates more traffic. We would provide decent public transport and reduce the need for cars.

Q.
Your policies for fuel and road pricing would hit vulnerable road-users, especially those in rural areas?.
A.
Building new roads only creates more traffic. We would provide decent public transport and reduce the need for cars. We would also reduce Vehicle Excise Duty for more fuel efficient vehicles so he average motorist who drives no more than 9000 miles a year would not be hit by increasing petrol duty. 

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