Road pricing scheme collapsing

Labour's road pricing pilot scheme is collapsing. A national plan had already been abandoned, leaving Greater Manchester and Cambridgeshire as the only councils who had expressed any interest, but now both councils are facing local opposition.

Shropshire and the West Midlands had initially expressed interest, but have now withdrawn from the scheme.

Great Manchester had proposed a £5 congestion charge for its city centre, but it needed the support of seven out of 10 members of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities. Three members have already rejected the scheme, and one more is unhapy with the plan as it stands.

In the wake of these objections, Greater Manchester and Cambridgeshire's opposition, and the fact that Labour's national plan for a road pricing scheme had already been abandoned,the pilot scheme could collpase altogether.

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