The Irish Small & Medium Enterprises Association (Isme), and the National Conservation and Heritage Group today became the latest groups to oppose the continued tolling of the M50 once the Westlink toll booths are removed.
Isme described the tolls as a stealth tax and called for their phased abolition over two years. The NCHG said the cost of buying out the Westlink should be funded by a small increase in road tax instead.
The removal of the barriers, scheduled to take place next Friday night, has prompted widespread predictions of chaos as confused motorists come to terms with the new system. Even the National Roads Authority, which takes over responsibility for tolling, has predicted "teething problems" in the early months of operation.
Isme accused the Government of greed and opportunism in its handling of the issue which, the organisation said, would dramatically increase costs for businesses using the roadway.
It said the fee for many commercial vehicles was set to rise from €2.80 to €4.10 from August 30th, an increase of 46 per cent.
"It is bad enough to be informed that there will continue to be delays even after the introduction of a barrier free toll system, but to also discover that businesses will be charged up to 46 per cent more for these tolls, at a time when business costs are already going through the roof, is unacceptable," said Isme chief executive Mark Fielding.
The change in tariffs would cost over €1,300 a year for an average small business with two commercial vehicles using the M50, he said.
Taxpayers had already paid €500 million to buy out the Westlink but were now being "fleeced on the double" to pay for a road that was originally intended to simply by-pass the city, but instead has become a primary commuter route. Tolls should only be introduced where a viable alternative road existed, he said, but this was not the case with the M50 until an outer orbital route was built.
