A BIG-Brother-styled road-tax scheme will be tested on local roads in a bid to cut congestion.

The Government has appointed four firms to conduct 'spy-in-the-sky' road-pricing trials in seven areas across the country - including Essex.

It has prompted the country council to request an urgent meeting with the Department for Transport to clarify the proposals.

The £10million-scheme will see units fitted to hundreds of volunteers' cars, which will be tracked by satellite and will automatically deduct payments from a test account.

Motorists will receive weekly or monthly bills, detailing where, when and how far they drove.

Those on the most congested roads could be charged up to £1.30 a mile.

The trails are expected to start soon and be completed by the end of the year.

Councillor Norman Hume, Essex County Council's cabinet member for highways, has written to transport minister Paul Clark, requesting more details.

Mr Hume said: “I would have significant concerns about any possible trials taking place in Essex.

"I have written to the minister to request an urgent meeting on this matter. We cannot support something that would potentially unfairly penalise motorists in this way.

“I have also asked for more information on the companies short-listed to deliver future programmes.

"Furthermore I would like to understand how the Government intends to consult local authorities on the use of roads in their area.

"Local decisions affecting local residents should be taken by their locally elected representatives.

“It is important the Government also understands that a large part of Essex is rural, and for many residents the only option is to use their car to carry out their normal, everyday activities.”

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “These voluntary trials will help inform the work of those local authorities who are considering taking forward local congestion charging.

"The Government will get on with bringing forward creative measures like active traffic management, as well as continuing investment in public transport to give people more choice over how they travel.

"Our priority now and over the next decade is on tackling congestion in our cities and on our motorways, and we have been absolutely clear that any proposal for national road pricing would need to offer long term value and address the legitimate concerns people still have.”

The four firms appointed to conduct the tests are Intelligent Mechatronic Systems, Sanef Tolling Limited, T-Systems and Trafficmaster.

The tests will also take place in Leeds, North Yorkshire, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Suffolk and in south west London.