Growth aspirations demand more flexible attitude to modernising roads network, says expert

Global Business Consultant Graham Robinson of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com, said that the UK risks following further behind European neighbours, such as France and Germany, in terms of the quality of infrastructure available.

Whilst the Chancellor has outlined plans to create a new toll road to ease congestion on the M4, the Welsh Government has rejected the idea, according to a report by the Financial Times. The Welsh Government has "no plans to introduce tolls on any Welsh road", a spokesperson told the paper.

However, Robinson said that the Welsh Government needed to be more "open-minded" to the idea of roads in the country being tolled.

"Congestion is already a problem on UK roads and it is projected that it is going to get worse in years to come," Robinson said. "The Government, as well as the devolved administrations, need new road capacity as well as to modernise existing infrastructure if the UK is going to remain competitive in an increasingly global market."

"It is an outdated model here in the UK where it is the public that has to fund road network projects. Neighbours such as France, Germany and Switzerland boast the best infrastructure in the world, but their networks levy tolls on users. The problem with the UK model is that when money is tight the necessary improvements to road infrastructure cannot be made," he said.

Robinson said there were many examples of UK roads that needed upgrading, including routes that connect the West Midlands to ports such as Felixtowe, as well as the M4 at Newport. He said that the Government's economic plan will fail without proper infrastructure because good infrastructure is need to support business growth.

"France is rated the number one country in the world in terms of roads infrastructure," Robinson said. "We are number 24, two places behind Cyprus. Toll roads are a problem politically, but there is a more palatable model that could be developed."

"A new Regulated Asset model could be developed, where a newly formed Roads Regulator could oversee private sector management of the roads," the expert added. "The Government could let out the management of particular road networks to private companies whilst retaining ownership of the assets. It could then look at a second tier of road fund tax for travel on motorways. In addition, the Government could then designate any new road capacity that is built for tolling and give the Road Regulator the power to set prices."

"There are other ways tolling can be introduced and made more palatable to the public. For example, private car users could be exempt from tolls whilst heavy goods vehicles made to pay the levy. Smart technology could be used to measure usage and calculate bills," Robinson said.