Readers' letters from Monday 23 Jun 2008

Charge protesters are confused

JUDGING by some recent letters, there seems to be confusion over the details of the TiF proposals. Dun Commutin' (Postbag, June 13<YR>) suggests the Metrolink expansion 'mostly appears to involve replacing existing lines' when in fact none of the proposed lines from Droylsden to Ashton or from Chorlton to East Didsbury and Manchester Airport will run on existing rail tracks.He bemoans the lack of cross-city links when there are plans for trams connecting Oldham/Rochdale with Chorlton/East Didsbury and Ashton and Droylsden/Eccles and the Trafford Centre, and buses linking Leigh and Bolton with Oxford Road and East Didsbury, to name but a few.M. Rowland (June 16) is worried about having to pay for driving from Blackley to the M60, but the charge only applies to drivers who cross the M60 towards the city centre between 7am-9.30am, so that journey would cost nothing. And instead of paying £2 to drive to the gym, has D. Roberts (June 16) considered jogging or cycling there (saving themselves a warm-up), going in the evening, or finding another gym outside the M60? Instead of leaving the Trafford Centre or Chill Factore in the evening rush hour, why not stick around until after 6.30pm, park on the other side of the M60, or use public transport?Before rushing to judgment, I urge everyone to examine the proposals which can be seen at gmfuturetransport.co.uk and consider not only what they're doing today, but also how things will have changed over the next five years, and what they could be doing differently by the summer of 2013. The health, prosperity and quality of life of our friends and families and that of future generations, will depend on how we choose to tackle issues like congestion, air pollution and climate change.Let's hope for everyone's sake that we and in particular those of us we have elected to represent us, are courageous and far-sighted enough to put our long-term best interests ahead of our short-term self-interest.

Ali Abbas, Chorlton

Monstrous c-charge

IT seems that we are being rushed into paying this monstrous charge before we get any benefit from an improved public transport system.I note that there are two important points that nobody seems to have considered. Our traffic congestion in Manchester is being compared with London. But the roads here are narrower and the public transport systems in London (underground as well as overground) are much better than anyone in Manchester could imagine.It seems the charge will be enforced and the money collected will be returned to us as a grant towards improving public transport, so we will be paying for the improvements.The public transport system must be fully improved before any congestion charge is laid, to give travellers a choice to use public transport or their car. At present they have no choice if they want to get to work on time.

Harry Earthey, Sale

Useless buses

I WANTED to try public transport one Sunday by travelling from north to south Manchester on the bus. The usual 30-minute car journey took 90 minutes and nearly two hours coming back. On the return journey, me, my children and other passengers were subjected to verbal abuse, foul language and threatening behaviour by a gang of teens. The driver didn't intervene and quite honestly I didn't blame him.I don't care about the so called Metrolink 'big bang', I won't be using it and I won't let my children use it or the buses unaccompanied – public transport is unreliable, expensive, dirty and dangerous. Five days a week I take one child to high school, then drop another off at primary school before going to work. I often have to visit clients during the day. In the evening, I collect one child from his grandad and one from her childminder's. Any idea how I'd manage this using public transport?

Debbie Kelly, Oldham

Culture clubbed

IN a recent city council's Jobs Update vacancies publication there is an advertisement for Cultural Regeneration Officer. This is for regeneration in areas that are populated by the working class and students. This, combined with the recent campaign by the former council leader to open an Opera House, prompted me to write.When I lived in Wythenshawe in the Eighties and Nineties, tenants had been writing to the council for backing for a cinema, youth theatre and requested what facilities most towns take for granted. The city council's stock response was that there was 'no demand' for cultural projects. Why has the establishment's attitude changed? The key is the National Lottery. There have been recent reports that the lottery provides excessive administration funds. No doubt the great and the good are on the gravy train. Paradoxically as this may sound, it would be better for communities if Lottery funds were disbursed through a local government lottery rather the present 'jobs for the boys' set up.The Lottery spokesperson claims that all social classes punt on the Lottery but doesn't explain which social group has benefited most. Surely the city council could get the community on board with regeneration? They could use young local people to shadow regeneration professionals. Why did the working class of these areas not 'need' culture in the past, while now being browbeaten into accepting highbrow culture?This seems a strange change of heart. Are there good jobs in the wind for politicians?

C. Lucan, Gorton