Political parties announce road plans

Campaigning is well under way for May’s general election; with the political parties announcing their plans for Britain’s roads should they come to power.

The three main parties, the incumbent Conservative’s and Liberal Democrats, and the opposition, Labour, have each revealed their manifestos this week, offering very different glimpses at the country’s possible future.

Should David Cameron be reelected the Conservative leader has reiterated his promise to invest £15 billion in roads if the party reclaims power in the upcoming general election, filling potholes and adding extra lanes to the motorway network. They also plan to implement a scheme to cut emissions by 2050.

Their current partners in government, the Liberal Democrats, have pledged to cut vehicle emissions and reform the car tax vehicle excise duty system should they be able to form their own majority government. They would also focus on implementing a ‘Green Transport Act’ that could legally require areas worst affected by vehicle emissions to impose limits on pollution-heavy vehicles using their roads

Labour meanwhile have revealed that, instead of focusing on the roads, they would delay work on several major projects in order to supplement their ambitious rail plans. Ed Miliband’s party would shelve work on Somerset’s A358 and the South Coast’s A27, freeing up over £200 million to facilitate a 12-month rail fare freeze and introduce a new nation-wide rail governing body.

The Green Party have pledged to go even further, abandoning the Government’s £15bn road building package in order to provide free public transport to students and improve the country’s cycling infrastructure.

The British electorate will ultimately make the final decision but it is worth bearing in mind that election manifesto promises are not always set in stone.

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