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Economic Development

Congestion charging for Birmingham on the table says Sir Albert Bore

City council chief refuses to rule out parking taxes and controversial charging scheme in a bid to alleviate traffic problems in Birmingham and boost public transport usage

Traffic jam in Birmingham city centre

leader has refused to rule out congestion charging or workplace parking taxes to pay for announced today.

But Labour leader Sir Albert Bore said that speedy, safe and reliable alternatives to the car, such as rapid transit bus lines and trams, would need to be up and running first so commuters had a choice.

Launched by Sir Albert Bore and Conservative Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin, the Birmingham Connected plan highlights investment in trams and buses, the opening of new rail lines, new smart card to tackle car congestion over the next 20 years.

Asked if he planned to increase local taxes through city centre parking or congestion charges, Sir Albert said they would look at all sources of funding including Government, European Union and private investment but stressed that any charges would follow consultation.

"There is a growth in car usage and we have to reverse that. If we don't, the congestion we see at peak times will be there throughout the day," he said.

He warned he would prefer to encourage people to ditch their cars, but added: "I am not ruling anything in, or anything out at the moment. It might mean some raising of taxes but that would happen around a discussion with residents and businesses."

Meanwhile, transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin, giving his backing to the Birmingham Connected plan, admitted the M6 Toll road had failed to combat congestion around the region's motorway network as it was designed to.

Asked if the Government planned to intervene to lower charges or even, as transport authority Centro has lobbied for, nationalise the road, the cabinet minister, who hails from Cannock, said not at present.