Blog ARCHIVE
Welcome moves to tackle vehicle taxation
Welcome moves to tackle vehicle taxation Commenting on today’s announcement in the Chancellor’s Budget of a new pay as you drive charge for electric vehicles1, the freeze on rail fares2, the gradual withdrawal of the temporary fuel duty cut3, and an additional £891m for the Lower Thames Crossing4, Chris Todd,...
Chancellor urged to scrap Lower Thames Crossing in favour of stronger growth-generating rail projects
Chancellor urged to scrap Lower Thames Crossing in favour of stronger growth-generating rail projects In its Budget submission to UK Chancellor of the Exchequer [1], Transport Action Network (TAN) has invited the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP to consider scrapping the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC), a new six-lane ‘smart’ motorway...
Pay as you drive the fairest way to go
Pay as you drive the fairest way to go Commenting on yesterday’s headlines about the possibility of The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, bringing in pay as you drive charges for drivers of electric vehicles1, Chris Todd, Director of Transport Action Network said: “With a gaping hole in the nation’s budgets and...
Demand for transparency on Smart Motorways
As campaigners call for POPES to be freed on Bonfire Night Smart Motorways are widely seen to have been a failure. Deeply unpopular with road users and breakdown services, they have led to more live lane injuries and fatalities. As a result, in 2023, the further rollout of new schemes...
Consultation on walking and cycling strategy welcomed but questions on budget
Consultation on walking and cycling strategy welcomed but questions on budget Commenting on yesterday’s launch of the consultation on the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS3)1, Chris Todd, Director of Transport Action Network said: “Having secured a historic victory in the Court of Appeal this summer against Treasury cuts...
Will transport delays scupper credibility of new climate plan?
Will transport delays scupper credibility of new climate plan? Commenting on today’s publication of the Government’s new climate plan, the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, Chris Todd, Director of Transport Action Network said: “With communities from England to Jamaica facing catastrophic uninsurable losses as climate breakdown accelerates, this new...
Challenge to Government’s ‘blockers’ rhetoric
Challenge to Government’s ‘blockers’ rhetoric Transport Action Network is challenging the latest ‘builders not blockers’ rhetoric from Chancellor Rachel Reeves, which is denigrating local communities while dismissing genuine concerns1. Chris Todd, Director of Transport Action Network said: “At last Rachel Reeves is starting to look at what really holds up...
Toxic concrete concerns
The government’s desire to be seen to be doing things at pace is already leading to poor and costly decisions. There is also a real risk that the public will be put in danger. Concerns have already been raised that the “low carbon pathfinder” status of National Highways’ £16 billion...
National Highways’ Toxic Run-Off
It has been widely reported that our rivers are polluted, with not a single river in England in good overall health. What isn’t so well known is that a major source of this pollution comes from our roads – oil spills, particulate matter, and microplastics from tyre and brake wear....
Draft RIS3 leaves many questions unanswered
A credible plan to improve journeys? Draft RIS3 leaves many questions unanswered Transport Action Network (TAN)1 has welcomed the publication of the draft third road investment strategy (2026 - 2031) (draft RIS3)2 with a budget of £25bn3. The draft outlines the government’s priorities for the Strategic Road Network (SRN). However,...
National Highways misusing taxpayers’ money, says TAN in complaint
National Highways misusing taxpayers’ money, says TAN in complaint to its regulator Transport Action Network (TAN)1 has written to the regulator of National Highways, the Office of Rail and Road, to ask it to investigate the government-owned company for misusing taxpayers’ money2. National Highways has a ringfenced pot called Designated...
Highway robbery – abusing Designated Funds
TAN has discovered that National Highways is syphoning off money from a dedicated fund for environmental and safety improvements (called ‘Designated Funds’1) to use it as sweeteners or greenwashing for new roadbuilding schemes. National Highways is also raiding the “ringfenced” funding to pay for mitigation that should come out of...
Government silly season spin exposes Lower Thames Crossing delusions
Government silly season spin exposes Lower Thames Crossing delusions Today the UK Government announced it is establishing yet another new regulator and board to track 50 or so major infrastructure projects to ‘speed up’ planning. The Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) ‘smart’ motorway will be the first project to have a...
National Highways not being held to account
There was a flurry of publications just before Parliament broke up in July, three of which directly related to National Highways. These reports are quite revealing about what National Highways has and has not achieved. They also show what aspects of National Highways’ performance are not scrutinised, and raise questions...
National Highways failing nature
When National Highways plans and delivers road schemes, it is meant to avoid harming nature and then minimise any impact, which it is then supposed to compensate for. This is called “mitigation” and is a legal requirement. In addition, new rules about Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) require developers to create...
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