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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. |
| But Labour said the government's plans would "risk simply driving traffic onto local roads". | But Labour said the government's plans would "risk simply driving traffic onto local roads". |
| 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 jams | Traffic 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. | |
| The public don't much like anything that smacks of privatising that which they already think they own - although the experience of the water industry shows that once it's happened people shrug their shoulders and get on with their lives | The public don't much like anything that smacks of privatising that which they already think they own - although the experience of the water industry shows that once it's happened people shrug their shoulders and get on with their lives |
| 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 that one option was a system of "shadow tolls", whereby the motorist does not pay the cost but private firms are paid by the government depending on the amount of traffic using a road. | Alasdair Reisner, from the Civil Engineering Contractors' Association, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that one option was a system of "shadow tolls", whereby the motorist does not pay the cost but private firms are paid by the government depending on the amount of traffic using a road. |
| For Labour, shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle said: "Instead of easing the burden on drivers and boosting our stalled economy through a temporary cut in VAT, ministers look set to let private companies take over the strategic road network and charge drivers for access. | For Labour, shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle said: "Instead of easing the burden on drivers and boosting our stalled economy through a temporary cut in VAT, ministers look set to let private companies take over the strategic road network and charge drivers for access. |
| "These proposals risk simply driving traffic onto local roads, increasing congestion and emissions while yet again setting back efforts to improve safety." | "These proposals risk simply driving traffic onto local roads, increasing congestion and emissions while yet again setting back efforts to improve safety." |
| 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." | 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%." | 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%." |
| Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "We should cautiously welcome the prospect of private sector involvement. There are just not enough public resources to provide the capacity we need and this offers the chance to make long-term plans for a utility every bit as important as things like water, power, electricity and the railways." | Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "We should cautiously welcome the prospect of private sector involvement. There are just not enough public resources to provide the capacity we need and this offers the chance to make long-term plans for a utility every bit as important as things like water, power, electricity and the railways." |