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Private cash needed to boost roads network, says David Cameron Private cash needed to boost roads network, says David Cameron
(40 minutes later)
  
David Cameron is expected to call for much more private investment in England's road network.David Cameron is expected to call for much more private investment in England's road network.
He will say tolls for new roads are one option, alongside attracting more money from pension funds and other investors.He will say tolls for new roads are one option, alongside attracting more money from pension funds and other investors.
More work is needed to relieve gridlock by widening "pinch points" and allowing traffic to use the hard shoulder on motorways, he will say in a speech.More work is needed to relieve gridlock by widening "pinch points" and allowing traffic to use the hard shoulder on motorways, he will say in a speech.
It comes as a poll suggests only 2% of people think he is living up to his "greenest government ever" pledge.It comes as a poll suggests only 2% of people think he is living up to his "greenest government ever" pledge.
In a speech on infrastructure, the prime minister will say there is an urgent need to repair its "decades-long degradation" and to "build for the future with as much confidence and ambition as the Victorians once did".In a speech on infrastructure, the prime minister will say there is an urgent need to repair its "decades-long degradation" and to "build for the future with as much confidence and ambition as the Victorians once did".
Traffic jamsTraffic jams
He will argue it is clear there is not enough capacity on the roads in busy areas.He will argue it is clear there is not enough capacity on the roads in busy areas.
"There's nothing green about a traffic jam - and gridlock holds the economy back," he will say."There's nothing green about a traffic jam - and gridlock holds the economy back," he will say.
Part of the solution is to move more people and goods onto the rail network, Mr Cameron will say, "but also to widen pinch points, add lanes to motorways by using the hard shoulder to increase capacity and dual overcrowded A-roads".Part of the solution is to move more people and goods onto the rail network, Mr Cameron will say, "but also to widen pinch points, add lanes to motorways by using the hard shoulder to increase capacity and dual overcrowded A-roads".
But, at a time when government finances are tight, the prime minister will say "innovative approaches" are needed to finance road improvements.But, at a time when government finances are tight, the prime minister will say "innovative approaches" are needed to finance road improvements.
"Road tolling is one option - but we are only considering this for new, not existing, capacity. For example, we're looking at how improvements to the A14 could be part-funded through tolling."Road tolling is one option - but we are only considering this for new, not existing, capacity. For example, we're looking at how improvements to the A14 could be part-funded through tolling.
"But we now need to be more ambitious. Why is it that other infrastructure - for example water - is funded by private sector capital through privately owned, independently regulated, utilities... but roads in Britain call on the public finances for funding?"But we now need to be more ambitious. Why is it that other infrastructure - for example water - is funded by private sector capital through privately owned, independently regulated, utilities... but roads in Britain call on the public finances for funding?
"We need to look urgently at the options for getting large-scale private investment into the national roads network - from sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and other investors.""We need to look urgently at the options for getting large-scale private investment into the national roads network - from sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and other investors."
Greenest ever?Greenest ever?
A feasibility study looking at "new ownership and financing models" for roads will be carried out by the Treasury and Department of Transport, to report by the autumn.A feasibility study looking at "new ownership and financing models" for roads will be carried out by the Treasury and Department of Transport, to report by the autumn.
Alasdair Reisner, from the Civil Engineering Contractors' Association, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Unfortunately when you look across Europe and elsewhere in the world Britain is falling down the league table in terms of the quality of our transport infrastructure so there is a need to get funding in there."Alasdair Reisner, from the Civil Engineering Contractors' Association, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Unfortunately when you look across Europe and elsewhere in the world Britain is falling down the league table in terms of the quality of our transport infrastructure so there is a need to get funding in there."
He said one option was a system of "shadow tolls" whereby the motorist did not pay the cost but private firms were paid by the government depending on the amount of traffic which uses that road.He said one option was a system of "shadow tolls" whereby the motorist did not pay the cost but private firms were paid by the government depending on the amount of traffic which uses that road.
Edmund King, president of the AA, said investment was needed in roads, but added: "We need to be careful about how we go about this."
On the prime minister's comparison between the water industry and the road network, he said: "Many consumers - drivers - will raise their eyebrows at that. In the water industry we saw big companies make big profits initially, at the same time as water and sewage costs went up by 42% and 36%."
Meanwhile, a YouGov poll commissioned by Greenpeace and the RSPB, suggests the coalition has not persuaded people it is living up to Mr Cameron's pledge to be the "greenest government ever".Meanwhile, a YouGov poll commissioned by Greenpeace and the RSPB, suggests the coalition has not persuaded people it is living up to Mr Cameron's pledge to be the "greenest government ever".
The poll of more than 1,700 adults across the UK found 2% of people asked - and no Lib Dem voters among them - thought it was meeting the promise, and 4% believed current rules protecting the environment were too strong.The poll of more than 1,700 adults across the UK found 2% of people asked - and no Lib Dem voters among them - thought it was meeting the promise, and 4% believed current rules protecting the environment were too strong.
The majority of people - 53% - believed its green credentials were about average, while 7% believed it was the least green government ever.The majority of people - 53% - believed its green credentials were about average, while 7% believed it was the least green government ever.