Campaign for Better Transport Roads Blog

Highways Agency road costs up again

admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:52:04 +0100

23 July: Result: Our relentless pursuing of the Highways Agency has paid off. The agency has now revealed the latest cost estimates for roads in its major roads programme. Overall, estimates have almost doubled. Some road estimates have quadruped!

Last year, the Nichols Report criticised the agency for chronicly under-estimating roadbuilding - and then allowing costs to spiral. The agency has now re-calculated all the costs. They've published high and low estimate to give themselves room to maneouvre.

Fuel duty postponement is huge step backwards

admin — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:06:49 +0100

16 July: I'm incredibly disappointed by the Government’s decision to postpone the 2p fuel duty rise. It would have cost drivers about £25 a year, but the money raised could have revolutionised our public transport network.

New car tax plans aren't green

admin — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:20:31 +0100

10 July: Today I found myself in a strange position: arguing against the planned car tax hikes. Green taxes should persuade people to change their behaviour, not just penalise them for a decision they've already made.

More road schemes go over budget

admin — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:05:48 +0100

9 July: After the long-awaited revelation from the Department for Transport of its latest cost estimates for the local roads programme - up 56%! - I've been speaking to local campaigners, and finding more examples of massive overspend.

Local road costs up 56%

admin — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:51:34 +0100

7 July: After almost a year of constant pestering, we've finally convinced the Department for Transport to reveal that their local road schemes will cost a staggering 56% more than originally expected.

Westbury Bypass goes to public inquiry

admin — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:06:52 +0100

23 June: Last week I met up with Jenny, a campaigner from the White Horse Alliance, who is trying to stop an unnecessary bypass around Westbury. Their public inquiry has just started, and the group is working hard to stop the bypass getting the green light.

Are fuel prices driving us to public transport?

admin — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:56:05 +0100

11 June: Throughout the fuel protest, motorists have complained that high fuel prices are forcing them out of their cars. I'm not so sure that's true, but even if it is, isn't the solution to make public transport cheaper, not cutting the cost of fuel?

Government plans wipe out ATM benefits

admin — Fri, 30 May 2008 17:48:09 +0100

I'm starting to regret the support we gave hard-shoulder running when the government announced its successes last year. The 50mph trial on the M42 reduced CO2 by 4%, great news for the planet, and we rightly endorsed it. So how did they repay us? By rolling it out nationally in a way which would increase CO2.

Invest fuel tax in public transport

admin — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:18:58 +0100

28 May: It’s not, as Jason points out in a Commentisfree article yesterday, a good time to be calling for Darling to keep the 2p tax rise. But high car taxes aren’t the problem – it’s what gets done with the money that counts.

Polluting Thames bridge gets shown the door

admin — Thu, 22 May 2008 12:44:12 +0100

22 May: Crossing the Thames could get an alpine makeover, as plans for a costly road bridge were sent packing yesterday. Great news – Campaign for Better Transport and other NGOs have been fighting long and hard because the bridge would have dramatically increased traffic, pollution and CO2 emissions.