Quiet Roads.

The Countryside Commission envisages working closely with local authorities as part of a 'Quiet Roads' initiative - to introduce measures to make selected country lanes more attractive for walking, cycling and horse riding, in the interests of a more tranquil and attractive rural environment. The Commission is also developing 'greenways' as traffic free routes within the countryside and from towns and cities to the countryside. Together with Quiet Roads they can form networks that provide safe alternatives to car travel.
We will help the Countryside Commission and local authorities develop these ideas. This could be through advice and support, including regulatory cover for experiment and innovation where appropriate, or by pilot projects linked to rural traffic management. Local authorities will be able to finance such initiatives through funding for their local transport plans.

Workplace parking

Employees driving to work and enjoying free parking at the workplace account for a significant proportion of peak hour congestion. Controlling the price and availability of parking has been shown by research to be capable of reducing traffic in an area. Local authorities determine the price and availability of  public parking, on and off the highway We will introduce legislation to enable local authorities to levy a new parking charge on workplace parking.
We propose that owners or occupiers of business premises would apply for a licence to allow a certain number of vehicles to be parked on site. The aim is to reduce the amount of parking available as a means of reducing car journeys and increasing use of public transport, walking and cycling. As with road user charging, a vital element in the effectiveness of the policy will be the use made of the proceeds to improve transport choice locally.

Trunk Roads.

The emphasis should be on making maximum use of capacity of existing road network, removing bottlenecks through minor construction work and improving traffic management. Any introduction of motorway tolls should be accompanied by measures to avoid or minimise diversion. Lorries using motorways might pay
a vignette 'fee'.

Agenda 21.

We will therefore introduce legislation to allow local authorities to charge road users so as to reduce congestion, as part of a package of measures in a local transport plan that would include improving public transport. We will issue a consultation document with proposals for how road user charging schemes should operate. This will deal with different ways of implementing charges: electronic schemes, schemes where drivers must buy and display a permit and schemes using tollbooths. It will seek views on how best to ensure the active involvement of local people, business and others in the development of schemes so that proposals attract public support. We will also be seeking views on how such policies will impact on the mobility of disabled people.

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