The West of England is the latest UK region to consider a road pricing scheme. Four authorities - Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire - submitted their 'Our Future Transport' document to the Depart-ment for Transport in October in a bid for a slice of the government's £1.4bn Transport Innovation Fund (TIF).
The authorities propose a daily charge of £4, but stress that further consultation will take place before finalising this. The West of England
aims to submit its full application in early 2008, subject to a consultation process and the approval of all the councils involved. It is expected that a decision from the govern-ment on whether to provide funding would then come in the summer.
A spokesman for Bristol City Council says: "It is estimated that lost time in congestion is already costing the West of England's economy at least £350m a year and journey times are on the increase." The government is currently considering bids from Greater Manchester and Cambridge for their proposed congestion charging schemes.
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