by political editor Paul Francis

A congestion charge for Kent’s major towns should be considered
to curb growing pollution levels and poor air quality, a senior
county councillor claimed today.

Cllr Martin Vye (Lib Dem) said Kent County Council should
consider the option as existing measures to reduce car use appeared
not to be having any significant impact.

Cllr Vye, who is also a Canterbury city councillor, acknowledged
the idea of a congestion charge was unlikely to prove popular at a
time when motorists were facing crippling rises in the costs of
driving.

Follow him on Twitter at @PaulOnPolitics

But he said there was evidence that the efforts to persuade
people to use public transport were flatlining and said Kent could
follow in the footsteps of London, which introduced a congestion
charge in 2003.

"A lot of very good measures have been put in place such as park
and ride schemes and bus lanes. However, the air quality is
worsening.

"I am not saying I am arguing in favour of a charge but I do
believe that across Kent – not just Canterbury – KCC as a strategic
authority ought to think very carefully about it. It should not be
ruled out."

"At the end of the day, if we cannot do it [reduce pollution] by
other means, KCC has a duty to consider other ways of making sure
that vehicles do not flood the town centres."

Mr Vye, who set out his thoughts during
a full county council meeting at County Hall, said he was not
advocating a charge himself but said there should be a debate in
the face of the figures that pointed to a deterioration in air
quality in urban areas.

Previous efforts by government to persuade councils to introduce
congestion charges have been largely unsuccessful.

In 2008, Manchester City Council proposed a charge for peak time
use of key roads into the city but it was rejected by residents in
a referendum.