Downing Street Says » Road Charging Petition

Asked what happens to petitions on the Downing Street website, the PMOS replied that they became part of the policy process and part of the overall context in which decisions were taken. He added that they were a welcome addition to the ability of citizens to communicate directly with government. There was no axiomatic process in which a petition would be submitted and the government then agreed, that was not the way it worked.

Asked if the government accepted that it was losing the argument on road pricing, the PMOS replied that the government accepted that there was an argument that had to be made on road pricing. The consequences of doing nothing would lead to an increase in congestion of 25% in less than a decade. We were working with 10 local areas as they developed proposals for local road pricing schemes, that would be a pilot, but this was a process that would take some time. They had been asked to come back with proposals by next July, but there would then be a further process of consultation beyond that. It was an issue where we were working with local authorities to improve the flow of traffic, working to provide extra roads, and working on railways for example, but there was still a problem with congestion. Therefore that was why we were looking at his area.

Asked if the Prime Minister was dismayed at the scale of the petition, the PMOS replied that people did feel strongly about this issue, but feeling strongly was not a substitute for coming up with practical proposals. It was the duty of government to come up with practical proposals, and to explain to people why the proposals were necessary, and to work through how they might be carried out. This was precisely why we were talking to the 10 local areas about proposals for pilot schemes.

Asked if there was a secret threshold of signatures that would change government policy, the PMOS replied that he was not aware of one. It was not a surprise that people felt strongly on this. It did not mean that we would stop thinking of ways to deal with this issue. The 25% figure on congestion told everyone all that they needed to know about why we needed to do something about this.

Asked if the Prime Minister had seen this petition, and asked to clarify what was meant by the previous answer that petitions formed part of the overall context in which decisions were taken and whether that was just code for junked, the PMOS replied that the BBC had an amazing ability to call black white. He took this opportunity to invite the BBC to do a little sum of the amount of coverage it devoted to pushing the Prime Minister to talk about the manner of Saddam’s execution, and then the number of seconds devoted to what the Prime Minister had actually said on the matter on the 10pm news last night. The BBC journalist replied that they were very concerned that they did not crowd out more important news items. The PMOS replied that he had succeeded admirably in at least one of his criteria, adding that it did not crowd out anything and did not even include the full quote. To answer his question, the PMOS replied that people’s strong views on this matter were being taken fully into account. But this was not a substitute for actually having to do the work to come up with the solution. Therefore this was precisely why we were doing the hard work of working with the 10 local areas to come up with practical proposals. We would then look at how they might or might not be implemented and how they then fitted in with the overall mix of what we were doing on transport. Doing nothing was not an option. Doing nothing would mean that in ten years time congestion would be 25% worse.

Asked if there were any examples of Downing Street website petitions that had changed government policy, the PMOS replied that the website petition process had only recently begun.

Asked if any policy proposals had come out of the Big Conversation, the PMOS replied that this was a Labour Party event and referred the journalist to the Labour Party.

Asked if the Prime Minister had ever been updated on the numbers in this petition before the story had broken, adding that he welcomed the discussion of processology on this occasion, the PMOS replied that the Prime Minister, as he had previously confessed, was more of an old fashioned paper man than he was a computer wizard. But he was kept updated on the e-petitions on a regular basis.

361 Comments »

all this bill will do is causes the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer,

if the bill goes ahead and we are all charged permile,

the real question is

will that fix the congestion, well some might say Yes becuase people on low incomes will just be forced to give up work as the road charges will take all their wages, so they will have to quit and claim bennifits, or the goverment will be forced to increase the national min wage

now let see

Cost of moving goods goes up say 30%

goods in the shops will have to go up 30%

companies will have to increase staff wages or people will just beable to afford to live,

So all that will happen is the new road tax will make every cost more and force companys to pay us all more.

Now even if the above did not happen and everyone mananged to pay the new tax then the roads would still face a 25% increase in congestion, just we pay the goverment for it,

So what is the answer,

More people working from home, great if it can be done,

anyone more suggestion, i rather put A hundred ideas to goverment that sit and moan,
Comment by stephen — 21 Feb 2007 on 12:54 am | Link
There is a simple answer . Let’s stop just accepting all this nonsense in our usual British way and do what the French do. SAY NO. They would not put up with it and neither should we. SAY NO.

Listen Mr Blair. NO
Listen Mr Darling NO
Listen Labour Government – THIS TIME NO You’re going to far.

NO.

Mr Hamilton of the Conservatives, want to win the next election? Guarantee us this will not happen.
Comment by G. Smith — 21 Feb 2007 on 1:11 pm | Link
Road Pricing=Poll Tax

Blair’s email makes it clear that road pricing will be implemented anyway, "because the issues are too complex for you poor simple non-politicos to comprehend".

Here’s a simple issue, then-

This flat-rate proposal, if pushed through, will be as unpopular as the Poll Tax, which it resembles in hitting low income earners as hard as it hits the well-off.

With any luck, it will have the same results for this patronising government as it did for Mrs Thatcher and the Conservatives.

Give any government ten years in power, and they will always lose touch with reality. Governments even start to think they have their own money, instead of spending taxes on the electorate’s behalf.
Comment by chris — 21 Feb 2007 on 5:05 pm | Link
take a look at this situation: a man has to travel 15 miles to work, half on a motorway, a quarter on minor roads and a quater on an A road.

at present he pays say 30p per mile (ALL costs included), working out at \xA39 sum of both trips.

so thats say 20p per mile for minor roads, 60p for the A road and \xA31.20 for the motorway. (i know the maximum is \xA31.34 but i bileve this is for lorries ect).

so, the sum is \xA324 a day just for the road charge, add the basic running cost for a car @ \xA37 a day to take away SOME fuel tax and basic car tax and the sum is now \xA331 FOR ONE DAY TO AND FROM WORK. never mind social joureys, holiday trips, or emergencies.

also, there is the "tracking" aspect. i REFUSE to have a tracker placed in my car. i will NOT be spyed on. (did you know that to have this tracker installed will cost \xA3200? and YOU will have to pay for this, upfront.) among other reason is the fact (dont pretend this won’t happen) that the day after you stray over 32mph a \xA360 fine drops on your mat. they will have abolished points for "minor" speeding by then, so you can be fined for ever and a day

guess which way i will be voting…
Comment by luke keen — 22 Feb 2007 on 12:55 am | Link
take a look at this situation: a man has to travel 15 miles to work, half on a motorway, a quarter on minor roads and a quater on an A road.

at present he pays say 30p per mile (ALL costs included), working out at \xA39 sum of both trips.

so thats say 20p per mile for minor roads, 60p for the A road and \xA31.20 for the motorway. (i know the maximum is \xA31.34 but i bileve this is for lorries ect).

so, the sum is \xA324 a day just for the road charge, add the basic running cost for a car @ \xA37 a day to take away SOME fuel tax and basic car tax and the sum is now \xA331 FOR ONE DAY TO AND FROM WORK. never mind social joureys, holiday trips, or emergencies.

also, there is the "tracking" aspect. i REFUSE to have a tracker placed in my car. i will NOT be spyed on. (did you know that to have this tracker installed will cost \xA3200? and YOU will have to pay for this, upfront.) among other reason is the fact (dont pretend this won’t happen) that the day after you stray over 32mph a \xA360 fine drops on your mat. they will have abolished points for "minor" speeding by then, so you can be fined for ever and a day

guess which way i will be voting…
Comment by luke keen — 22 Feb 2007 on 12:55 am | Link
The BBC posted some details on road taxing:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4610877.stm

The government is planning to replace road tax and petrol duty with road charging. Here is an outline of the key points of Transport Secretary Alistair Darling’s plan:

# Each driver would be charged for every mile of his or her journey.

# Prices would start from as little as 2p a mile on quiet roads outside rush hours.

# The maximum price would be \xA31.34 a mile on busy motorways like the M25 at peak times.

# Current charges of fuel tax and road tax would be scrapped.

# A pilot scheme covering a region or large conurbation could be operating "within five years".

# If all goes well a nationwide scheme could be rolled out within 10 years.

# A Department for Transport (DfT) feasibility study concluded last year that a national scheme had the potential to cut congestion by about 40% with "only 4% less cars using the roads".

# The increasing use of satellite navigation kits in cars will be utilised, Mr Darling said.

# He wants a decision on whether or not road pricing should be implemented "during the course of this parliament".

# Mr Darling said new technology was already being used to "better manage roadspace" – for example a new system of "traffic management " on the M42.

# He highlighted an insurance company’s decision to pilot a pay as you drive car insurance which makes use of a satellite box in the car.
Comment by Michael — 22 Feb 2007 on 3:07 pm | Link
I say nay to road tolling
Comment by James Stewart — 4 Mar 2007 on 5:48 pm | Link
Would the 22% of voters who voted for this bunch of thieves and liars posing as a government, please stand up and identify themselves?

I’ve never met anyone who admits to have voted for this so-called government.

You all know what to do about road pricing, identity cards and the national database, and all the other Stalinist laws that Blair and his cohorts have or are introducing: MAKE SURE THAT YOU VOTE AT THE NEXT GENERAL ELECTION. VOTE FOR ANYBODY BUT NEW LABOUR. CONSIGN THEM TO THE ELECTORIAL WILDERNESS. IT DID NO HARM TO THE ARROGANT THIRD TERM TORIES. THEY ARE MUCH MORE HUMBLE NOW AREN’T THEY?
Comment by terry — 12 Apr 2007 on 5:32 pm | Link
Great another bloody tax on us motorist its about time we stood up for ourselves and just said NO.The French do it,so why don’t we.TAX TAX TAX,there will be a tax on breathing and how much Co2 we are putting out soon.It’s a joke.!!!!!!!
Comment by Daryl White — 26 May 2007 on 3:53 am | Link
Great another bloody tax on us motorist its about time we stood up for ourselves and just said NO.The French do it,so why don’t we.TAX TAX TAX,there will be a tax on breathing and how much Co2 we are putting out soon.It’s a joke.!!!!!!!
Comment by Daryl White — 26 May 2007 on 3:54 am | Link
When Labour was voted into power ten years ago, we older folk (who had previous experience of Labour governments)threw our hands up and wept in anguish. Now look what those idiot voters have brought upon themselves and the rest of us.
It will be UK-suicide if road-charging is implemented. The cost of everything will go UP, as businesses, both large and small, pass on the road-charge costs to the consumers. Postage will go up,too.
I have already heard many people saying that they will leave their jobs if road-charging is brought in, because they simply won’t be able to afford to go to work. That will cost businesses dearly, as staff hand in their notices. Not everyone can do their work from home, don’t forget that; and not everyone can live within two miles of their current employment.
Tourism will suffer dreadfully, and many places could close down, including all the hotels and B&B’s. Who’s going to have the money to tour Scotland, for example?
As for cycling, well that’s a bloody joke, when you notice how many cyclists jump back into their cars at the first sign of rain!
Many rural and even semi-rural areas have poor to non-existent bus services, and even most of those don’t go where you want, when you need to. My nearest bus-stop is 2 miles away, reached along a dangerous road with no pavements. No thanks!
My wife spends six days out of seven at home, at the best of times. Now it looks like it’ll be 7/7. When I eventually retire, I suppose we will simply have to put our feet up at home, again 7/7, and wait to conveniently die (to free up another so-called desperately-needed house) instead of having some enjoyment in life.
The answer is to INVEST in the public transport system, PROPERLY and effectively. Govt has had decades to do it, but they’ve squandered the piggy-bank contents on wars, financial aid for other countries and many other things.
Comment by James Derek — 27 May 2007 on 8:08 pm | Link

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Road Charging Petition

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