Newport City Council Leader Rejects Proposal for Congestion Charge Scheme – Wales Online
Newport will not be implementing a congestion charge for drivers, as confirmed by the council leader. Cllr Dimitri Batrouni emphasized that his administration is not against motorists and will oppose any plans to charge drivers in Newport. However, he stressed the importance of investing in the city’s public transport infrastructure.
While there are no concrete proposals for charging schemes in place, national policymakers have been exploring various options for road taxes in the future. An idea such as road-user charging, akin to a pay-per-mile scheme, was previously considered by the UK government but later discarded in 2023 to address potential revenue loss due to the rise of electric vehicles.
In Wales, an independent review on road-user charging and workplace-parking levies was conducted in 2020, primarily focusing on environmental benefits. Despite no national implementation of such schemes, a Newport councillor noted a perceived shift against motorists. Cllr Matthew Evans criticized decisions like the cancellation of the M4 relief road and investments in active travel projects that he believed had not yielded meaningful results.
Council Leader Batrouni clarified that the council is supportive of motorists, citing a recent initiative of free Saturday parking over Christmas. He reiterated the importance of investing in public transport, following recommendations from the South East Wales Transport Commission in 2020, endorsed by the Welsh Government.
The progress report on the Burns Commission’s projects for 2024 is yet to be released, despite inquiries made throughout the year. The council leader emphasized the city’s need for promised transport investments to alleviate the increasing pressure on Newport’s infrastructure.
In conclusion, while the prospect of a congestion charge scheme in Newport has been ruled out by the council leader, the focus remains on enhancing public transport services to address the city’s growing transportation challenges. The balancing act between accommodating motorists and promoting sustainable travel options continues to be a key consideration for Newport’s future development.