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From: Freedom Fighter
Date: 2/16/03
Time: 12:18:00 AM
Remote Name: 195.7.227.153
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT PARKING A CAR, IT'S BIGGER THAN THAT! The push for CPZs has been inspired by the Commission for Integrated Transport, which is advising John Prescott on Transport Policy. It is headed by a virulent anti-car zealot, Professor David Begg, notorious for fouling up the roads in Edinburgh as the Labour transport supremo there. He's a heavyweight academic who would run rings around a man like Prescott, and clearly has done. He is also responsible for the legislatin allowing Congestion Charging. Here is an extract from the OBSERVER - chilling insight into the future if he continues to get his way: "....But Begg, while enthusiastically supporting London's plans [for congestion charging], wants a big bang around 2010, when public transport investment and satellite car tracking technology are good enough to make pricing on every road in Britain technically feasible. The CFIT report argues for congestion to be the measure for charging, not miles or time travelled or city limits. Prices would be based on historical traffic patterns, regularly updated, and aimed at smoothing out notorious bottlenecks, rush-hour gridlock, school-run snarl-ups and motorway tailbacks. It envisages drivers becoming familiar with the rates charged at different times for their regular journeys and adjusting their commuting habits. Progressive mobile-phone and car-based electronic 'black box' technology will let motorists price options based on time and route at the touch of a button for a journey from, say, Swansea to Leeds. Drivers could pay their road charges via pre-paid smart cards or receive a monthly bill. " Professor Begg's thinking has also given local authorities the power to charge levies on ALL parking spaces (yes, even your car park at work, wherever you work). Local authorities are expected to tow the line, and are towing the line (whimps). His commission is kind enough to have said that this won't include parking space in people's front gardens, but the very fact that they mention it at all means they see it as a possibility for the future. DO WE OR DO WE NOT LIVE IN A FREE COUNTRY? DO WE OR DO WE NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO ABOUT OUR LEGITIMATE BUSINESS WITHOUT THE SEEKING THE GOVERNMENT'S PERMISSION, AND WITHOUT THE GOVERNMENT HAVING IT ALL STORES ON A COMPUTER SOMEWHERE. I really do think the time has come for all of us to get up and fight.