In July, ministers unveiled plans to introduce road tolls on an existing stretch of road for the first time. Under the scheme, drivers will be charged to use an expanded section of the A14 in Cambridgeshire.

It marks a policy shift for the Government, which had previously ruled out tolls except for new road schemes.

Britain’s most familiar toll road, the M6 Toll, was tendered in the late 1980s as the first user-tolled motorway project in the UK.

The investment group, Macquarie Infrastructure, won the contract to build and run the toll road until 2054.

The road provides an alternative to the highly-congested M6, but it has seen a 175% rise in prices since 2004 and combined with the ‘free’ alternative of the normal M6 route, it has resulted in lower than expected usage.

David Brennan, managing director at LeasePlan UK, said: “The M6 Toll has highlighted the shortfalls of toll roads in the UK.

“Faced with some of the highest charges in Europe, motorists are still opting to drive on the neighbouring M6.”

He continued: “The UK needs to improve the condition of the road network, but the CBI’s suggestion of privatisation and more toll roads is not the solution.

“Road travel is a necessity, not a luxury, for many businesses. These organisations make a substantial tax contribution to the Treasury and in return they should be able to drive on roads that are fit for purpose – without incurring further costs.”

In 2009-10, motorists paid £35bn in taxes specific to road users, including Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) and fuel duty, but in that same period, expenditure on the road network – including maintenance and the local network – was only around £9.4bn, according to the DfT figures.

Independent regulation can raise standards

As part of its new model, the CBI is pressing for a new governance structure for the UK road network, including an independent roads regulator.

A regulator would cap costs for business and the public, while controlling the level of returns for private investors.

John Cridland, director-general of the CBI, said: “While lessons need to be learned from past experiences, such regulators have been regarded as successful by injecting greater investment and getting real value for money where they have been properly used.”

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