Drivers surveyed over tolls plan on busy roads
THE Welsh Government is considering tolls for some drivers on two of Wales’ busiest stretches of road.
A recent survey of some road users questioned them about some motorists paying to use parts of the M4 motorway and A470 in an effort to tackle air pollution.
As part of this, scenarios surrounding tolls on older cars on the M4 around Newport, Wales’ busiest stretch of motorway, and the A470 around Pontypridd were considered. But the survey says a “clean air zone” is not proposed “at this stage”.
A similar survey asking respondents about the use of tolls on such roads was also sent to commercial vehicle drivers of LGV and HGV vehicles.
The surveys were commissioned by Accent on behalf of WSP the Welsh Government’s consultants in assessing measures to improve air quality in the locations – identified as areas of poor air quality.
The Government asked drivers if their commuting or travelling habits would change if some vehicles had to pay to use those stretches of road.
The survey discusses a toll for petrol cars registered before 2006 and diesels plated before September 2015. Vehicles who met the survey’s criteria – i.e. through age – were deemed “compliant”.
It suggests a charge from January 2023 for the M4 between junctions 25 and 26 through the congestion pinch point at the Brynglas Tunnels in Newport and between Pontypridd and Upper Boat on the A470 in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Drivers were asked whether they would be willing to pay a variety of pricing options ranging from £3 to £8 for cars and from £6 to £12.50 for light goods vehicles to use the stretches of roads.
They were then asked to respond whether they would choose to switch to public transport, change destination or route, pay the charge, switch cars or not travel at all should the toll be introduced.
Non-exempt heavy goods vehicle drivers have been asked for their response to a charge of £50.
The survey explained if such a charge was to be implemented, it would be a “single charge applied on a daily basis”.
Respondents were told pollution levels at the two areas under discussion were above legal limits, so the Welsh Government “has been assessing potential solutions and packages of measures to improve air quality”.
“This work is necessary as the Welsh Government are legally required to improve air quality and reduce harmful levels of nitrogen dioxide in the shortest possible time and whilst at this stage a clean air zone is not proposed at these locations, all potential options must be developed should they be required in the future,” the survey added.
Last week the Welsh Government formally wrote off millions of pounds which were spent on the M4 relief road plan – ending any remaining hope that the project might go ahead.
The remaining £78.9m costs of the relief road were written down by the Welsh Government. It comes after £43.1m spent on the project was written off the previous year.
A total of £135.7m in public money has been spent on the M4 relief road, which would have seen a new road built to alleviate traffic congestion near the Brynglas Tunnels.
According to BBC Wales, Councillor Sam Trask, chairman of Rhondda Cynon Taf Conservatives, was one of those asked to complete the survey.
He said: “I drive a nine-year-old diesel car and, were I able to afford one, I’d already be driving a less-polluting car.
“I feel that if the Welsh Government are going to charge me to use a road that I normally use twice a day to go back and forth to work, then they’re actually going to put that aspiration even further out of reach and I’m going to be even less likely to be able to afford a better car.
“I think if these proposals were to go ahead, they would adversely affect the poorest in our society unfairly.”
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “There are currently no plans, have had no discussions and have no intention to introduce congestion charges on the M4. In a separate piece of work, in line with our legal obligations to reduce harmful levels of nitrogen dioxide, we have commissioned surveys to gain people’s views on clean air zone proposals on the M4 between junctions 25 and 26 in Newport and on the A470 between Upper Boat and Pontypridd.”
Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Transport, Natasha Asghar MS, said: “The idea of having tolls on two of Wales’ busiest roads is utterly ridiculous, and will be a major kick in the teeth for hardworking people. Punishing people for driving an older car, probably because they can’t afford a brand new one, is simply unacceptable, and goes to show that this Labour administration is anti-driver and anti-growth.”
She added: “Labour ministers need to scrap this hare-brained idea now, and look at other projects, such as improving Wales’ shambolic public transport.”