Fears that almost a dozen different congestion charges would be introduced across England have disappeared after the Government scrapped a controversial clause requiring cities introduce congestion charges to qualify for millions of pounds worth of funding.

Multiple congestion charging schemes running in parallel across large areas of the country would add significantly to the administrative and cost burden on fleets, especially those travelling between urban centres.

Now the Government has bowed to pressure and scrapped the controversial Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) clause – a move welcomed by the BVRLA.
“This avoids the potential headache for fleets of drivers travelling around the country having to negotiate a range of different charging regimes,” said its chief executive John Lewis.

Ten authorities had investigated congestion charging to qualify for TIF money.
Manchester was the first but it was forced to abandon its plans after a residents voted overwhelmingly against the proposed charge in a local referendum in December 2008.
Cambridge, which was looking for £500m of TIF money, has also halted its congestion charge plans following the Government’s u-turn.

“County council chiefs will carry on fighting for vital funds to improve transport,” a Cambridgeshire County Council spokesman said. “But they will not impose congestion charging on Cambridge.”

A Department for Transport spokesman said the remaining eight areas – Bristol and the west of England, Nottingham and the east midlands, Norfolk, Shropshire, Reading, Tyne and Wear, Durham and Leeds – are now under no obligation to introduce charging.

Six of the eight areas told Fleet News that they have now dropped any congestion charge plans, while Reading said it will only introduce a charge if all other alternatives fail.

However, the TIF clause had allowed for a workplace parking levy (WPL) to be introduced as an alternative to a congestion charge and at least two cities have explored this idea.

Nottingham has confirmed that it will introduce its WPL in 2012 when companies in the city will be charged for every parking space they provide to employees.

Exeter, which had also been considering a WPL but was not looking for TIF money, has now dropped the idea.

“There are no specific proposals from either the county or the city council for a WPL. Clearly that could change in future, but would require specific approval by council members and the Government following public consultation,” said a spokesman.

But the spectre of local congestion charges springing up across the country has not completely disappeared after York, which was also not looking for TIF money, said it is considering introducing a congestion charge and/or a WPL. The city is currently holding a public consultation on the ideas, which ends on March 26.