Motoring News

A national road body has commented that people should not think that plans to scrap the proposed road pricing system represent a government u-turn on charging.

The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) has stated that motorists may instead be hit by "a plethora of local charges" if the scheme were to be dropped.

According to BVRLA director general John Lewis, officials announcing the scrapping of a national charge may be leaving the door open to smaller authorities in regions across the UK.

"It can hardly be unnoticed that this increase in local taxes, if unhypothecated, neatly allows national government to bolster local authority incomes without use of central funds and thereby, at no cost to itself," he said.

Motorists may find additional charges difficult to cope with as well as car insurance and road tax bills.

Earlier this year, a petition on the 10 Downing Street website saw some 1.8 million people sign against the introduction of road charging.