EU tolls soar for truckers
SHOP prices could be forced up in the UK due to a 30 per cent rise in EU tolls on lorries.
UK hauliers have to pay up to 20 euro cents (18p) for every kilometre they travel within EU countries.
Now eurocrats want to increase toll charges for road repairs by 30 per cent to help combat air pollution and noise.
Critics say this would put up the cost of food and other items as transport firms pass on costs.
Hauliers are already operating at the very tightest possible margins
Kate Gibbs of the Road Haulage Association said: “This will just be horrendous. We have to pay tolls when we go to Europe, but their lorry drivers don’t when they come here, as well as more in petrol and diesel tax.
“Hauliers are already operating at the very tightest possible margins. A 30 per cent rise in toll charges is too big to absorb. Consumers will see it passed on as the cost of all goods in all shops will rise.”
Last year, two and a half million goods lorries travelled from the UK to Europe.
