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| Consultation launches to find and fix UK's problem A-roads | Consultation launches to find and fix UK's problem A-roads |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A consultation has been launched to find out which A-roads in the UK need cash to bring them up to scratch. | A consultation has been launched to find out which A-roads in the UK need cash to bring them up to scratch. |
| The Department for Transport announced funding in the summer to rejuvenate the road network. | |
| Now it is asking councils to apply for up to £100m for projects as part of a 12-week public consultation. | Now it is asking councils to apply for up to £100m for projects as part of a 12-week public consultation. |
| The scheme will prioritise road widening projects on dual carriageways, improving road safety measures, and major junction improvements. | The scheme will prioritise road widening projects on dual carriageways, improving road safety measures, and major junction improvements. |
| Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said A-roads "have been underfunded" in the past. | Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said A-roads "have been underfunded" in the past. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We've been spending a lot of money recently on the motorways and big dual carriageways. What we have not been doing is sorting out the next tier down. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We've been spending a lot of money recently on the motorways and big dual carriageways. What we have not been doing is sorting out the next tier down. |
| "This [consultation] is all about medium-sized towns on those A-roads that have got clogged up centres, that have got lorries waiting at traffic lights, that have got pollution in the centre. | |
| "It's about time we started to build those bypasses, improve those roads, add extra stretches of dual carriageway and focus on the next tier down of roads." | "It's about time we started to build those bypasses, improve those roads, add extra stretches of dual carriageway and focus on the next tier down of roads." |
| About 5,000 miles of A-roads across the UK will be eligible for the multi-billion pound funding pot to improve the nation's strategic road network. | About 5,000 miles of A-roads across the UK will be eligible for the multi-billion pound funding pot to improve the nation's strategic road network. |
| After the consultation, the scheme could begin in 2020. | After the consultation, the scheme could begin in 2020. |
| BBC News business correspondent Jonty Bloom said the investment is hoped to alleviate congestion, "allow new housing to be built and boost economic growth". | BBC News business correspondent Jonty Bloom said the investment is hoped to alleviate congestion, "allow new housing to be built and boost economic growth". |
| From 2020 the money for road improvements will come from vehicle excise duty, which raised £6bn in 2016. | From 2020 the money for road improvements will come from vehicle excise duty, which raised £6bn in 2016. |
| 'Roads that matter' | 'Roads that matter' |
| Motorists in the UK drove 324 billion miles in 2016 - up 2.2% on the previous year - but AA spokesman Luke Bosdet said many drivers suffered a "daily nightmare" at notorious pinch points. | Motorists in the UK drove 324 billion miles in 2016 - up 2.2% on the previous year - but AA spokesman Luke Bosdet said many drivers suffered a "daily nightmare" at notorious pinch points. |
| As a result, he said improvements to ease traffic flow were "very welcome". | As a result, he said improvements to ease traffic flow were "very welcome". |
| RAC director of motoring Steve Gooding said: "For many businesses an economically important major road is the one that runs right up to the factory gate. | RAC director of motoring Steve Gooding said: "For many businesses an economically important major road is the one that runs right up to the factory gate. |
| "It will be interesting to see whether the business bodies consider the government's plans to go far enough in designating the roads that matter to their members." | "It will be interesting to see whether the business bodies consider the government's plans to go far enough in designating the roads that matter to their members." |
| But Bridget Fox, of the Campaign for Better Transport, said the government should focus on improving major transport links, rather than overhauling major road networks. | But Bridget Fox, of the Campaign for Better Transport, said the government should focus on improving major transport links, rather than overhauling major road networks. |
| She said the Department for Transport should apply a "fix it first" strategy to prioritising road maintenance, and improving public transport and cycling routes. | She said the Department for Transport should apply a "fix it first" strategy to prioritising road maintenance, and improving public transport and cycling routes. |
| The government is also reported to be considering plans to introduce mileage and emissions-based charges for lorries in an attempt to cut congestion. | The government is also reported to be considering plans to introduce mileage and emissions-based charges for lorries in an attempt to cut congestion. |
| According to the Times, the "pay-per-mile" system could be used to replace other taxes, such as fuel duty, and could be rolled out to other types of vehicles if it works. | According to the Times, the "pay-per-mile" system could be used to replace other taxes, such as fuel duty, and could be rolled out to other types of vehicles if it works. |
| Mr Grayling confirmed the consultation to update the HGV road user levy - introduced in 2014 so the vehicles make a contribution repairing the damage they cause to the road network. | Mr Grayling confirmed the consultation to update the HGV road user levy - introduced in 2014 so the vehicles make a contribution repairing the damage they cause to the road network. |
| He said it was about creating a "level playing field" for British and international hauliers. | |
| "Our hauliers often complain that a continental trucker comes in with a tank full of lower duty diesel, spends several days working in the country, goes away again and pays nothing towards the use of the roads," he said. | |
| The industry was being consulted on a system which would mean all hauliers pay per use. | |
| But he denied any plans for a road toll system for other vehicles for the "foreseeable future". |