Friends of the Earth Birmingham Action Briefing Feb 98/Mar 98

Campaign News

Transport

Integrated Transport And The Taxation Of Car Parking

Just after Christmas I was grabbed by the headline in the Mail on Sunday: '£400 to Park Our Cars'. All previous attempts by The Mail to persuade me to buy a copy had failed, but I am afraid this was a temptation too far, and when no one was looking I sneaked up to the counter and...

Last year the government performed a wide ranging consultation exercise on integrated transport. One of the main ideas advocated by FOE has been the taxing of non residential car parking. Recently the government has been sounding this idea in the media and this was one such article. Infact the portent they portrayed was remarkably similar to parts of our recommendations for the consultation.

This is possibly the most important transport issue that will occur this year. It may include taxing car parking at work, at out of town shopping centres, and in city centres. Looking at such policies is vital. As the Mail so accurately reported, it is designed to discourage car use while the money raised can be invested in public transport. The policy has not yet been decided.

There will be many against it and it will not be simple to persuade commuters to leave their cars at home. However it is vital that measures be introduced to help clear up the traffic mess that has been created.

Road Traffic Reduction (Uk Targets) Bill

Have you heard the result of the second reading of the Road Traffic Reduction (UK Targets) Bill? Wasn't it great/terrible! (please delete as appropriate). Yes, I am afraid the vote for the bill (Jan 30th) took place after we went to print and at the time of writing I do not know the outcome!

Firstly I would like to say thank you to everyone who supported the letter writing campaign. It is vital that we show our views by telling the politicians that we need a reduction in road traffic.

If this bill is finally passed it will force the government into creating a policy to deal with the menace of ever increasing traffic.The bill in itself will not solve the problems of the congestion and pollution caused by traffic. Likewise if it fails it is not the end of the fight.

Whether or not the bill passes, we've got to keep up pressure on the government to produce effective policies for the reduction of traffic.

Steve Mackman, Transport Campaigner