Roads Wasting Over £60m. a Year
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BRITAIN'S inadequate roads cost the country over £60m. a year, according to the Federation of British Industries, who, last week, forwarded a report to the Chancellor of the Exchequer strongly criticizing the existing road system
The report attributes £26m. to wastage of time, and other losses are given as: fuel £12m., accidents (insurance) £10m., vehicle repairs £9m. and tyres £3m. The estimate was based on 1946 prices, and the loss now was therefore much greater.
. During the period 1948-52, the total capital expenditure on the railways was £211m., against an estimated £43m. on roads, which included street lighting and other ancillary items. Of this, an estimated £9m. went on new roads.
Schemes laid before the Minister of Transport would require an expenditure of' over £1,000m., of which £100m. would be needed for the removal of blackspots alone. "It is not suggested," stated' the report, "that a programme A26 of thiS size can be undertaken all at once, but the magnitude of this sum is a measure of the seriousness of the position."
An example of a proposed motorway between Birmingham and Bristol was given. This would cost some £l1m. at existing prices, but the estimated saving to users would be about £1m. a year.
The report recommended, as a "modest beginning." an expenditure of £20m. to £50m. a year over a period of, say, five years, in addition to present expenditure.
The method of financing was a matter for the Government, but the Federation considered that if the initial funds available were insufficient for rapid expansion, industry would be willing to meet part of the cost by a limited application of tolls to special sections of new motorways, particularly where the use of such facilities Would reduce the distance between points and censepently save time and money.