BRISTOL City Council is one of the 27 authorities to have expressed an interest to the Government in piloting a congestion charging project estimated to raise £15 million profit in its first 15 years. The names of the other willing authorities are not due to be released until the middle of this month.

Bristol says the experience gained from the ELGAR road pricing trial, funded by the European Commission from February-May 1998 on the A4 Bath Road, showed the 'way forward'. Through charges, which averaged £6 for access to the city, the number of car trips fell by 15% or 'a significant shift away from car use'. If its bid to be one of the 'fast track' authorities is successful, Bristol City Council would look to introduce a charging scheme in 2003/04 using private finance, ideally provided by the software company installing the billing system, which would then be reimbursed through sharing the profits. Drivers would pay around £1 per journey initially, rising to £5 in four years.