Cameron wants to privatise the roads

[fiveub]

If it reduces congestion and improves the quality of the roads then I am all for this.

What about the billions of pounds we already give them?

I am sure we get charged for everything, and the money doesn't seem to be used as well as it could. Maybe they should use the money to pay for better financing and a better government structure.

 

[hola_adios]

If it reduces congestion and improves the quality of the roads then I am all for this.

An increase the costs of transport, hence prices ... this is just another hidden tax.

 

[do_ron_ron]

As we already know from previous privatised situations where a monopoly exists, lots of private companies fall over themselves trying to get a piece of the action. Then they sit back and profit from their monopoly. The only people to gain are the company shareholders.

What it will do is to force more traffic back onto minor roads running through small villages. One of the main reasons for motorways was to take traffic away from these places. Large amounts of traffic in small places led to bottlenecks and increased danger to locals. Joined up thinking is not their strong point.

 

[TJM]

I don't object to toll roads in principle, but public transport outside London is rubbish and expensive. There has to be a viable alternative to driving if you are going to penalise people for it.

I have already explained why privatizing the rail network completely would reduce prices and improve the quality of the service in other threads.

The only argument that I had against was that it would be impossible to have a private system with no centralized pricing structure because there are too many people using it. Even though millions of people go through private airports without centralized pricing structures and without any problems on a daily basis. In other words there was no credible argument for the fascist rail network that we have at the moment, with low standards and high prices.

Air passengers have their choice of airports and airlines to reach the same destination, and routes can easily open and close to suit demand. Trains are fixed infrastructure, with massive up-front costs and no competition on routes. They are a monopoly and need to be regulated.

 

[Aero]

What about the billions of pounds we already give them?

I am sure we get charged for everything, and the money doesn't seem to be used as well as it could. Maybe they should use the money to pay for better financing and a better government structure.

Only a small percentage of the money that is generated via the roads is re-invested in them. (Although the money from the roads isn't necessarily used for this)

If it's implemented it will be under DBFO like the M6 toll (Design, build, finance & operate)

The simple fact of the matter is there is not enough money being invested in the roads the works that are being undertaken at the moment a largely holding works designed to extent the life of existing roads/features. The are minimal improvements being undertaken due to the sheer lack of investment. Why do you think motorways are generally being patched instead of being laid in long sections?

 

[Raumarik]

They should increase the road tax on small cars, mine is currently £20/year which is just daft and probably barely covers the admin, postage and cost of the new tax disc.

Road tax should go on the roads, which it doesn't but if it did I'd happily pay more.

 

[Strife212]

He should privatise the rail network. It happens in Germany and it works

Hasn't that already been privatised? Again, I may be wrong.

I hope you are both joking...

The railways are privatised and it's a disaster. This roads idea is an absoloutely terrible and madcap scheme, I'd think it was a joke if it wasn't actually seriously being considered.

Cameron actually said this in the speech where he unvieled this idea:

Our railways are crowded and expensive – compared to the French, Dutch and Swiss railways our fares are 30% higher, our running costs 40% higher and our public subsidy is double.

You have to admit, it's something of a miracle to achieve high fares, big subsidies and poor performance – all at the same time.

Okay, great. So now lets do the same thing to the roads?

It's exactly the same as the railways, there is no competition because you NEED to go to a certain route, so you have to pay the toll no matter what.

 

[dowie]

I hope you are both joking...

The railways are privatised and it's a disaster.

I think you misunderstood the previous poster - he said 'rail network' this is currently owned by a state owned company.

Prior to British Rail the UK's railways were run by regional rail companies.

 

[drunkenmaster]

It was meant as sarcasm, but in all seriousness, it's a ******* joke. Is there anything we don't get charged for these days. .

This makes me so sad for the general state of our country.

We live in this country, we pay taxes for the things in this country...... we have and always will be charged FOR EVERYTHING. Where in the almighty **** do you think the money should come for to pay for SERVICES WE ALL USE.

Labour generation, I want a top notch NHS, I don't want to pay for it, I want perfect roads, but I don't want to pay for it, I want to live off dole, but I don't want to pay for it, I want a house, but I don't want to pay for it, I want a job, but I don't want to work hard, I want want want want want.

Why, why on earth would anyone ever complain about being charged for everything, that is how the entire god damned world has worked for your entire damned lifetime.

We use roads, we need to pay more money to keep them in good condition but no one wants to.


Labour has us spending more, on more services than we could EVER afford, to the tune of well over 160billion a year more than we "pay for", yet people cry foul over every single cut, and again cry foul when you want improvements to something, in this case road quality increases..... but don't want increased spending to pay for it.

 

[sigma]

This makes me so sad for the general state of our country.

We live in this country, we pay taxes for the things in this country...... we have and always will be charged FOR EVERYTHING. Where in the almighty **** do you think the money should come for to pay for SERVICES WE ALL USE.

Labour generation, I want a top notch NHS, I don't want to pay for it, I want perfect roads, but I don't want to pay for it, I want to live off dole, but I don't want to pay for it, I want a house, but I don't want to pay for it, I want a job, but I don't want to work hard, I want want want want want.

Why, why on earth would anyone ever complain about being charged for everything, that is how the entire god damned world has worked for your entire damned lifetime.

We use roads, we need to pay more money to keep them in good condition but no one wants to.


Labour has us spending more, on more services than we could EVER afford, to the tune of well over 160billion a year more than we "pay for", yet people cry foul over every single cut, and again cry foul when you want improvements to something, in this case road quality increases..... but don't want increased spending to pay for it.

+1
If only we had a like button.

 

[Evoss]

Well the English roads cant get much worse. The French roads are privatised and their roadworks are done so quickly and well. Things getting done in a week instead of a year here in England.

If money is involved it will get done quicker to boost the income, so thumbs up to the move.

 

[scorza]

I think you misunderstood the previous poster - he said 'rail network' this is currently owned by a state owned company.

Prior to British Rail the UK's railways were run by regional rail companies.

To be fair, when the rail network was owned by a private company, Railtrack, that was even more of a disaster.

 

[Irish_Tom]

^^^

I'm more than happy to pay for it, in fact, I would have no problem paying more tax as long as the service was good.

However, I don't want to line shareholders pockets when the money would be better off improving services and infrastructure. Unfortunately we see it time and again with privatisation of public services; little changes or it gets worse and the only people to benefit are the shareholders.

 

[Nevakonaza]

I think it would be a good idea,I mean with the state some of our roads are in these days if they were Privatised hopefully they would be repaired more often,Problem is those tolls...I could see them getting greedy!

 

[ChroniC]

This makes me so sad for the general state of our country.

We live in this country, we pay taxes for the things in this country...... we have and always will be charged FOR EVERYTHING. Where in the almighty **** do you think the money should come for to pay for SERVICES WE ALL USE.

From the tax I already pay for the roads you repugnant little man. I don't think I should pay a tax on something that is then syphoned off wasted and then told I have to pay a toll to cover the fact they have misdirected and squandered what I paid for.

Labours spending is neither here nor there on why I should pay for it. They simply over spent on things we didn't need.
At the end of the day we need to prioritise where the money that comes from all taxes goes, I don't care if it means my council don't put up Christmas lights or do a summer show, or have a health and safety team check the whole town etc etc, as long as the essentials get covered, then, and only then should you be asking me for more money.

 

[stuman]

people on job seekers could be trained to lay new road surface and improve roads...


then you solve the problem of unemployment and dodgy roads.

or use criminals, they would then have a skill to use when they get released and would find work.

the roads will always need maintaining.

 

[Uther]

^^^

However, I don't want to line shareholders pockets when the money would be better off improving services and infrastructure. Unfortunately we see it time and again with privatisation of public services; little changes or it gets worse and the only people to benefit are the shareholders.

Exactly. I have no doubt this will be the result. And what about the serious disruption to the current road system while they build these new 'private' lanes? If you think constant roadworks are bad now, new road building/widening schemes will make them a thousand times worse...

 

[realBabelfish]

As we already know from previous privatised situations where a monopoly exists, lots of private companies fall over themselves trying to get a piece of the action. Then they sit back and profit from their monopoly. The only people to gain are the company shareholders.

What it will do is to force more traffic back onto minor roads running through small villages. One of the main reasons for motorways was to take traffic away from these places. Large amounts of traffic in small places led to bottlenecks and increased danger to locals. Joined up thinking is not their strong point.

well said.

surely all our fuel tax money is spent on roads? that with VED means i pay around £1200 to drive on the roads TO WORK.... joy

 

[King Damager]

It's an odd one. I'll happily pay for the M6 toll, it saves me enough time that opportunity cost works out about right.

Saying that, I'm ok with the M6 toll because if I wanted to I could take the extra time and use the M6. I'd have to be sure that not wanting to pay wouldn't restrict your ability to travel places, AND wouldn't result in a serious degradation of the 'unpaid' roads...

well said.

surely all our fuel tax money is spent on roads? that with VED means i pay around £1200 to drive on the roads TO WORK.... joy

It may be different with fuel tax, but I'm not sure it is. Generally speaking though the answer is no. Your tax just goes into one giant pot.

kd

 

[realBabelfish]

people on job seekers could be trained to lay new road surface and improve roads...


then you solve the problem of unemployment and dodgy roads.

or use criminals, they would then have a skill to use when they get released and would find work.

the roads will always need maintaining.

good thinking. maybe they could be one of the 90% of road workers standing there doing **** all. or watching someone dig a hole?