Report says tolls could fund £2bn roads work

The Scottish Government should consider introducing tolls to help tackle a £2 billion road maintenance backlog, according to a new report.

The Institution of Civil Engineers Scotland said about a third of local roads are in an unacceptable condition in its latest review of the country’s infrastructure.

The declining state of local roads risks undermining improvements made by major investment in projects such as the Queensferry Crossing and Borders Railway, the report said.

The institution, which has 8,000 members in Scotland, said estimates put the cost of simply preventing further deterioration at £245.5 million a year. It said: “We recommend a progressive system of roaduser charging be considered where appropriate to help meet the financial demands of constructing and maintaining good-quality roads infrastructure.

“Direct charging, either as a flat fee or on a pay-as-you-go basis, should be explored.”

The report hailed progress in the development of waste and flooding infrastructure but raised “major concerns” about the energy sector.

More than half (55%) of Scotland’s electricity generation capacity will be retired within eight years with the closure of Longannet coalfired power station and Hunterston and Torness nuclear plants, it said.

The institution called for a “clear, long-term energy policy guided by expert advice” in Scotland and the UK. “All energy sources, including nuclear, on-shore gas and renewables, should be discussed,” it said.

“Debates should be informed by expert scientific and technical advice and robust evidence. Bold political leadership and evidencebased policy will build stability and investor confidence.”

Ronnie Hunter, chairman of the steering group that produced the report, said: “Although there is some good news, such as in the areas of waste and strategic transport, there are serious question marks over the resilience of our energy and local transport infrastructure.

“To address these particular concerns, we have called for a mature and rational debate on how we generate energy, and we are also calling for the Scottish Government to work with local authorities to address the £2 billion maintenance backlog in Scotland’s local roads.”