No it doesn't. They have signs saying "M6 Toll Clear" but nothing to say whether the M6 is clear or not. You are unable to make an informed choice - it's just another example of rip-off Britain. Now, if they had a sign saying both stretches were clear how many would use the Toll road?

It's the same in Europe. One minute you're on a busy motorway, next minute you're on a beautiful new road with no one else on it for miles. At that point you realise you're on a Toll motorway and you've missed the sign!

Thought we already paid a toll for all of our roads, Car Tax.

and car tax is totally unfair, road tax and third party insurance should be levvied on fuel, much fairer.

Nowadays that would suit me down to the ground. Not too sure if the hauliers would agree though.

The fact that construction companies are begging for some sort of kick start to the housing market and government guarantees for first time mortgagees is an indicator of just how much spare cash those national (and often international) construction companies have to throw around on projects that have already been proven to fail.

The cash for housing on the other hand already has a successful model to follow from '08 to '10 when the government backed house purchase share scheme was in place, it was actually a boom time for builders when first time buyers could get onto the mortgage treadmill, its no coincidence that the sector has crashed again as soon as the scheme was withdrawn.

That's what happens when you let the markets decide. The coalition ended the house-share scheme and suddenly there was buggerall demand, so instead of admitting they'd ballsed up, they come up with another scheme to try to stimulate the market but it's not a 'U' turn. Oh no.

When the second bridge crossing of the Mersey is complete that will be a toll bridge and they are going to make the existing Runcorn / Widnes bridge a toll bridge as well so there isn't a free alternative.

This has gone down like a lead balloon with the locals because Runcorn and Widnes were made into Halton development zone and as a result a lot of development work was done but most of it on the Widnes side of the bridge. So the Runcorn population who regularly travel across the bridge to use the huge Tesco and other shops, go to the multiplex cinema over there or just to enjoy the redeveloped waterfront suddenly face paying tolls to do so. These clearly were not part of the plan when the Halton development was envisaged.

The Runcorn locals campaigned for passes for free use of the Bridge on the basis that it was their council taxes that went to fund the Halton development and now they were going to be penalised when wanting to access it but were refused. They will get a discount instead but its probably still going to reduce the local traffic and affect the businesses in Widnes.

A fine example of British coordinated planning for you!

To compare the continent and their toll roads to here is barmy. The UK is a compact densly populated country when compared to the likes of France, Spain and Germany. The toll roads work in Europe and are well used especially given the distances you might want to cover. How long would it take to get from Paris to Lyon on a non toll road!!

Most continentals travelling between big cities, especially the French & Germans would opt for TGV or similar, rather than bugger around on the roads

And the train services are cheaper too. And a proper network, so if you are on a train that's delayed, any connection will be held for you.

I can't ever remember having to stand on a continental train either.

It amazes me that airlines allocate seating, as do inter-city coaches and yet the railways can hide behind victorian legislation, in order to continue treating their passengers worse than livestock