A Shropshire man has collected more than 70,000 names on an internet petition opposing pay-as-you-drive road pricing.

A Shropshire man has collected more than 70,000 names on an internet petition opposing pay-as-you-drive road pricing.Peter Roberts, an account manager from Lawley Bank, Telford, set up the list on an official Government website in November and told around 30 friends and colleagues.

News spread by e-mail and motorists around the country have since flocked to the site. It is the most popular petition on the Downing Street website.

The second most popular petition on the Downing Street website has fewer than 17,000 names.

The Government is currently planning legislation to begin road pricing trials which may include a scheme in Shrewsbury. They could see vehicles’ movements tracked and drivers charged for each mile they travel.

The petition states: “We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to scrap the planned vehicle tracking and road pricing policy.”

Mr Roberts is against the idea which he claims would be unfair and limit person freedom. He said fuel tax already took account of distance travelled so road pricing was unnecessary.

“It also means that if you’ve got a gas guzzler you would pay the same as with a small car,” he said.

He claimed public opinion was against the policy so he was not particularly surprised about the huge response.

“I had a suspicion it would be so successful as most people are seriously fed up with it.”

The petition is set to come to an end on February 20 when, according to the website, a Government department will have to respond to its message.

And Mr Roberts, who wants to reach 100,000 names, said the success of his campaign meant he should be able to have a personal meeting with Tony Blair. He claimed the policy was a way of making money rather than improving roads.

Mr Roberts has also received political support from backbenchers John Spellar, a former transport minister and MP for Warley, and Graham Stringer, a Manchester MP and a member of the Parliamentary Transport Select Committee.

People can see the petition at petitions.pm.gov.uk/traveltax

By Dave West