Tory warns council may be "guinea pigs" (From Stourbridge News)

Tory warns council may be "guinea pigs"

11:10am Tuesday 19th June 2007 in Local

A TOP Tory says Stourbridge drivers should not have to cough up for congestion charges to pay for better public transport.

During a visit to Hagley, shadow secretary for transport, Chris Grayling MP told business bosses motorists may end up paying charges on a regional basis with little direct benefit in their own areas.

Mr Grayling was speaking at the launch of the Conservative Business Group on Thursday June 14 at the Lyttelton Arms in the village.

He said: "The government want to introduce a national road pricing scheme.

"This is totally unacceptable and local authorities in the Black Country need to be careful they don't become guinea pigs by agreeing to road pricing in return for improvements to public transport."