Fuel tax revenue 'should be used to improve transport'

Date: 11/7/2011

Any increases in revenue that the coalition receives should be put towards the UK's public transport infrastructure in order to fund changes that give people more choice.

Such is the opinion of Campaign for Better Transport's Sustainable Transport Campaigner Sian Berry, who says that any green duty implemented by ministers needs to be fair and if it helps to improve the environment then it will be beneficial for everyone.

"The government should be helping people to switch away from environmentally damaging behaviour, but by actively raising train fares and cutting support for bus services, the government is doing exactly the opposite," she warns.

According to a survey by the Green Fiscal Commission, more than half (51 per cent) of Britons support a green tax, while this rises to 73 per cent if the cash generated through this levy is used to help lower carbon emissions.

The benefactors of the first allocation from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund were announced last week, with 39 projects across the UK receiving financing totalling £155 million.

This money is to be used to improve transport in a way that not only helps lower emissions, but also boosts the economy.

Posted by Nick Anderson