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Road toll petition: 'What prat thought this up?'
Last updated at 15:07pm on 13.02.07
No 10's website crashed after one million people logged on to register opposition to a plan charge tolls on up to 10 per cent
Senior ministers have vented their anger at Downing Street for allowing petitions on its website.
One high-ranking member of the Government said the idea had been dreamt up by a "prat" and was proving to be a public relations disaster.
To make matters worse part of No 10's website crashed after one million people logged on to register their opposition to a plan charge motorists tolls on up to 10 per cent of the nation's roads.
• Now MPs join road toll revolt • Add your name to the road tax petition here • 'Dartford toll rise will jam up east London'
Downing Street hoped the epetitions would encourage greater participation in politics and show Labour was listening to voters.
Ministers are furious, however, that No 10 has provided a platform for political opponents. One said it was "unbelievable", adding: "The person who came up with this idea must be a prat."
There is particular anger in the Department for Transport that No 10 has allowed opponents of road pricing to shape the debate.
It says the online petition presents the negative aspects of toll roads but fails to put forward the benefits to the economy and the environment of cutting congestion.
Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander today undertook a media offensive to counter the damaging coverage caused by the website.
He said: "I understand the public's concerns. Frankly if we were proposing what the petition suggests I would share their concerns. Unless motorists and families can see the benefits of bringing in a national road pricing system then it simply won't happen."
The petition claims motorists will be "tracked at all times" and road pricing will be "unfair" on those who "live apart from their families and poorer people who cannot afford the monthly cost".
Paul Biggs, spokesman for the Association of British Drivers, said he was very pleased with the response to the petition. "The only way road pricing can work is to actually price people off the roads. That is one reason they will sign the petition.
"Another reason they will sign it is they are going to be trapped and traced wherever they drive. It is Big Brother - and they don't want that," he told GMTV.
Roads Minister Stephen Ladyman said once the petition closed next week, ministers would start explaining the "real policies".
Since the facility was set up in November, No 10 has received more than 4,391 petition requests.
Downing Street said it was "a popular way for people to get their views heard" and a "landmark service" which would be developed.
Reader views (37)
Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.
“Downing Street hoped the e-petitions would encourage greater participation in politics and show Labour was listening to voters.” The reason Labour flunkies are up in arms is because the e-petitions show the government in this country does not listen to voters.
In a true democracy, the government should offer a referndum on any law. If 90% of us wish to pollute the planet for the next generation then we have the right to. Elected governments who implement their own will because they think they know better rather than that of the citizens who elected them are no better than dictatorships. How many politicians will join us on public transport I wonder?
There are sound economic, enironmental and moral arguments for congestion charging/road tolls and if I had faith in the government to handle it correctly I might even agree with it but the fundimental truth is this, poor people will be priced off the road and the motorways will become the domain of the super rich. Our outdated, under develped public transport systems will collapse under the weight of millions of displaced drivers. City centres will become unaccessable wastelands, businesses will close and unemployment will skyrocket.
We have built a society around the fundamental truth that you require access to a motorcar to live a full life. How many of us live in walking distance of our children's schools, place of work, family and shopping centres?
- S, Glasgow
Road tolls will force traffic onto A & B roads which, in turn, will lead to much greater pollution and make life a misery for those living on or near such roads. Our villages will be blighted, and weekday life will grind to a halt. Better to launch a campaign for At Home working so people can actually cut down their commuting by private or public transport. Why do we still think we need to spend all day in an office miles from home?
- A Day, Godalming, Surrey
Shoot the messenger! A popular petition has come out strongly against a pet government policy. Hence the petition itself is at fault, not the policy. Do these politicians ever remember they work for us, not for themselves?
- G, London
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