In reaction to the recent announcement by the Highways Agency to upgrade the A14 between Cambridge and Huntingdon, The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is calling for the industry to be closely involved in discussions about how the scheme will be funded.

The proposed £1.5bn scheme will see a new 12-mile Huntingdon bypass as part of a package of improvements on the 22-mile route.  This will be mostly funded by Central Government, with a substantial contribution from Local Authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships.  However, FTA’s concern is that the shortfall will have to be picked up by those using the route, including the transport and logistics industry.

Malcolm Bingham, FTA’s Head of Road Network Management Policy said, “FTA welcomes at long last a commitment to fund the upgrading of this essential strategic piece of infrastructure.  But tolling is always bad news for the logistics industry as it is always taken as a threat of extra cost.”

Charges deter the use of road space; that might well happen with the motorist who uses the network on a non-essential basis.  What is plain is that charges or tolls will not affect the need to take goods and services to the customer. Those journeys will have to be made, the toll will have to be paid and transport companies will aim to pass on those extra costs to the customer.

Mr Bingham added, “FTA members realise that without tolling, it will be difficult to raise the necessary funding for new infrastructure, but our members want to ensure that any tolling that is put in place is reasonable and fit with a set of parameters which the Association has called the tolling charter.”