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13th July 2005
Dear Sir,
In your feature last Thursday (7th July 2005), under the heading "Road Toll Battle Taken on to the Web" you quote Stan Smith as saying; "I am opposed to all road tolls, because one seems to follow another: It's the thin end of the wedge".
We agree with Mr Smith that road tolls are the thin end of a wedge, but we suggest that the wedge needs to be pushed much further in, in order to reduce current traffic levels substantially. That is among the reasons why we oppose the proposed second Tyne road tunnel which would increase traffic and therefore traffic congestion in Tyne and Wear.
As to whether motorists are being "ripped off", our member organisation Transport 2000 writes: "In 2003 bus and coach fares in the UK were 34 per cent higher and rail fares 36 per cent hight in real terms than in 1980. Over the same period, the cost of motoring has decreased by 9 per cent despite a 7 per cent increase in fuel costs while household disposable income has gone up by 90 per cent (Department for Transport Trends, 2004)".
It's residents who are being imposed upon. Our roads and pavements have been turned into used car lots and (when not gridlocked) race-tracks! Car purchase and use is much too cheap.
Yours faithfully,
Paul Winch,
Co-ordinator,
Tyne Crossings Alliance.
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