Another PFI wheeze where the nice government get us into more debt

George Monbiot - Guardian

"Over the next few days, the deal to expand the M25 (the orbital motorway around London) will be completed. ...The new lanes will be built and managed by private companies in a deal worth £5bn. It's the second-biggest private finance initiative (PFI) scheme launched in the UK. And the all-time biggest rip-off."

The M25 needs urgent widening before it grinds to a complete halt; I am on it every day and to travel - say - from Gatwick to Heathrow (less than 40 mls) is a total lottery.

Planes don't wait because of a crash/delays at J8 and there is no direct transport between the airports, except via the M25.

Finance is needed by whatever means - to be repaid (as in Europe and the USA) by the impending tolls. Thus, those who don't use it won't pay.

Nagle wrote:

Finance is needed by whatever means - to be repaid (as in Europe and the USA) by the impending tolls. Thus, those who don't use it won't pay.

I agree. There are two sets of toll booths already on the M25 - on both sides of the QE2 bridge.

These usually work extremely well and the proceeds/income are well on track to pay for the building and costs of the bridge.

Motorists pay for the use of the roads - what could be fairer than that ? Whether its through PFI or otherwise.