A transport campaigner has launched a website to fight road tolls in the North-East. Former councillor Stan Smith says tolls are "just another tax on the motorist" and hopes the site will attract thousands of supporters. He decided to set up www.north-east-against-tolls.org.uk and www.against-tolls.org.uk after Liberal Democrat leaders in Newcastle admitted considering toll roads as an option to cut congestion. Mr Smith, of Cleaside Avenue, South Shields, also hopes to start a group called North East Against Tolls. He believes introducing tolls to pay for a second Tyne Tunnel is unnecessary. He said: "I have launched the website because I feel there is a movement to introduce more and more road tolls. Effectively, these tolls are taxing people on lower incomes, who need a car for work, shopping or whatever. "They are the people who are going to be badly affected by road tolls, which are forcing people out of their towns." Like the controversial Poll Tax, Mr Smith said escalating road tolls take no account of a driver's ability to pay. Instead of forcing thousands of drivers to pay more for the cost of travel, Mr Smith would like to see greater investment in public transport. He said: "I am very keen to pressurise Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority to provide more car parks near Metro stations, because some of them are very crowded at the moment, with drivers forced to park on kerbs. "I am opposed to all road tolls, because one seems to follow another. It's the thin end of the wedge. I think it's scandalous that motorists can be fined £40 or £50 for being 10 minutes late getting back to their cars. "Road tolls will have a greater impact on the lower paid, and take no account of the driver's ability to pay. "They will not prevent people using their cars unless public transport is improved. "With fewer local shops, more people are being forced to go to supermarkets. Very much more must be done to attract the motorist on to the Metro." Mr Smith ultimately hopes to see a Metro link established under the Tyne between North and South Shields. | 
