ONATHAN RADICE, an economist and a journalist, analyses today’s transport muddle in a new Young Fabian pamphlet.* The author after examining urban transport, inter-urban transport, and rural transport, makes a series of recommendations for the future. On parking, he says “It is important to cut down the number of long stay parking places near places of work . All off-street car parks should be brought under central control... (City authorities could) lease parking space owned by private developers.” He suggests a congestion tax “to relate as directly as possible the benefits which a road user obtains from a particular stretch of road at a particular time to the costs he
incurs and imposes, both on other road users and the public generally”. On subsidies, he suggests “Public services in towns should not therefore be required to make a profit . .. They should be allowed to obtain subsidies from the City corporations” Likewise local bodies should be able to subsidise British Railways. The author does not see the need for “a structural reform of goods haulage” as he points out “over 80 per cent of road tonnage is carried for less than 50 miles” but he believes “The present licensing system must go” and there should be “far stricter supervision of lorry operations”, The Ministry of Transport “plating” scheme is supported. * “Transport”, by Jonathan Radice, 2/9d. p.p. from Fabian Society, 11 Dartmouth Street, London, SW1.