As if increases in fuel prices and the Congestion Charge were not enough, the new Transport Secretary, Douglas Alexander, seems content to use traffic problems to pile the pressure on small firms, says the Forum of Private Business (FPB).

The FPB's comments came as Mr Alexander gave his backing to road pricing, another regulatory white elephant dumped firmly in the path of British motorists.

The system, which was developed by his predecessor Alistair Darling, would see satellite tracking devices fitted in every vehicle and costs levied according to distance travelled, time of day and roads used.

The Chief Executive of the FPB, Nick Goulding said, "It's not accurate to believe that companies can avoid using the motorways at peak times, deadlines must be met for deliveries, customers will not wait for the busy traffic to subside."

Tracy Hoather, Company Secretary for Sameday plc, a Cheshire-based courier company that runs 35 lorries, said: "Our customers are generally needing emergency deliveries. They want them in the shortest time possible." She is worried that it will be another expensive cost to her firm.

"What does road-pricing mean for industry? Will there be a different set of charges for businesses?" she asked.

Lack of support

In a recent poll put to the members of the FPB, respondents voted overwhelmingly against the imposition of road pricing. Seventy two per cent were against the idea, with just 17 per cent in favour.

Nick Goulding says the Government must address the big picture of how to combat traffic congestion without placing the burden on small business. "Whilst we recognise the issue has implications for the economy and the environment, small firms don't trust the Government to alleviate this extra cost to business elsewhere," he said.

"We don't have to look far to see how previous congestion measures have become another way to increase revenue," he added, pointing to Ken Livingstone's intention to raise the Congestion Charge to £10 by 2008.