With Manchester’s congestion charge still hanging in the balance (the results of a referendum will be announced at noon today), the spectre of road pricing has again raised its head after an inquiry into cross-border public services between England and Wales heard that it could eventually cost up to £30 to travel a distance of just 30 miles.

In evidence given to the Commons Welsh Affairs Committee, Stephen Kelly, head of policy for Wales at the Freight Transport Association, said there were proposals for four different road-pricing schemes around the M4 and Bristol.
Bristol is currently investigating the feasibility of road pricing in an attempt to curb congestion within the city.

In addition, there is already a toll on the Severn Bridge crossing on the M4/M48, which costs cars £5.30 for a single crossing and is expected to rise in January.

Plans are also well underway for the building of a 14-mile stretch of the M4 relief road in south Wales, which is also expected to be tolled.

“Then last week we received intelligence from Cardiff City Council that in four years’ time they may resurrect the idea of a congestion charge in the centre of Cardiff,” said Mr Kelly.

“So within a 30-mile radius you potentially have four different pricing mechanisms.

"The concern is that if all those pricing mechanisms were to arise, you could be talking £25 to £30 to travel a distance of 30 to 40 miles.”