80% fear C-charge effects

David Ottewell

March 22, 2007

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C-charge: Now a hot political issue.

EIGHTY per cent think congestion charging would have a negative effect on Greater Manchester's economy.

And more than half would vote against a party supporting road- pricing - enough to transform the region's political landscape.

The findings, from the M.E.N.'s exclusive poll on congestion charging, led senior Labour politicians to call for their colleagues to hold their nerve and see the project through.

But Tory transport spokesman Chris Grayling claimed Greater Manchester was being `blackmailed' and the survey showed decisions `could not be imposed by national government'.

Our poll of 1,000 people across the region, carried out by CBA Marketing Research, asked whether congestion charging would have a positive or negative impact on Greater Manchester's economy. Exactly 80 per cent said `negative', rising to as many as 90 per cent in Stockport.

Asked whether it would have a positive or negative impact in their particular town or city, 62 per cent said `negative' and 38 per cent `positive'. The `negative' figure was highest in Manchester (76 per cent) and lowest in Trafford (53 per cent).

Manchester council leader Sir Richard Leese said research showed the economy would be at greater risk if the scheme did not go ahead. Research commissioned by Greater Manchester transport chiefs suggests up to 30,000 new jobs could be at risk if no action is taken to address the growing gridlock.

Economy

"All 10 districts in Greater Manchester have said that, if we believe the economy will be damaged, we will not do it," he said. "That's not just the overall economy, but any part. Of course it is not universal, but by and large the business community are supportive."

Tony Lloyd, MP for Manchester Central and a supporter of the congestion charge plans, said the plan should be implemented despite the risk it would impact on crucial local elections in May.

"This may be politically loaded the wrong way, but sometimes people have to take a leadership role for the future," he said.

None of the major political parties has come out against the local congestion charging scheme. It is being considered as part of a bid to the government for £1bn for public transport improvements, including the Metrolink Big Bang extensions.

Susan Williams, Conservative leader of Trafford council, has admitted she has `philosophical problems' with the idea.

Paul Rowen, the Lib Dem MP for Rochdale, said he did not believe congestion charging would be a major political issue in areas where his party and Labour were battling for control.

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Chris, Irlam (22/03/2007 at 10:41)

The council can fool themselves for as long as they like, this WILL have a negative impact and anyone who is not blindly loyal to Government or public transport can see this.

If, as a business owner, you had a choice of investing in Liverpool (no road charges) or Manchester (road charges) where would you put your money?

Bobby (22/03/2007 at 10:48)

Once more Sir Richard Leese have made a different statement, cant this man make up his mind. Now he says commerce will be hit id the charge is not imposed, he has shown he is all for it and yet only a couple of weeks ago he said he had not made a decision yet. How can a person be so short sighted,mund you he is a good labour man "DO as I order and not what you want".

Ms D, Manchester (22/03/2007 at 10:53)

I'm not surprised the most negative effect was felt in Manchester as all the proposed congestion routes go into Manchester Centre itself. I am more surprised at the arrogance of the Councillors who are well aware of how people feel about it and yet they intend to press ahead. Let's see how they all feel when they are booted out of office in May.

Ace Riley (22/03/2007 at 11:07)

I am very worried that this newspaper is beibg used to brainwash people ? over the last few weeks they have printed more about the congestion charge than any other stories? it seems to be in "our" local paper daily ?could somebody from the MEN say something why they insist on printing this story on a ""daily"" basis??.

Tony (22/03/2007 at 11:34)

At the last count Greater Manchester had a population of 2.5 million people.
How can you give an accurate assessment in percentage terms of the positive and negative aspects of the congestion charge by interviewing a paltry 1000 people.
The only people that would vote in favour of the congestion charge are the people that don't drive because they want their bus to get there faster.
I don't believe councillors and politicians are prepared to sacrifice their lucrative seats in office to push this through.
Lets see on May 3rd.

Joey, Ashton under Lyne, (22/03/2007 at 11:40)

"Eighty per cent think congestion charging would have a negitive effect"

The other twenty per cent know it will!

Could the MEN please call it Road Charging as to call it congestion charging is way off the mark. If there is just one car on the road at the time - It will be charged! Unless it is some jumped up polititian in which case we will pay.

HLR, Stockport (22/03/2007 at 13:11)

IF the council want a solution to congestion and congestion charging is not simply a spin on road pricing, then maybe they should start solving the problem with a carrot rather than a stick.

I travel from Stockport to Salford everyday, takes about 30 mins in the car or about 1hour by public transport. It costs about £6/day if I use public transport. If this was £2 a day - ie a cheap alternative then I would take it.

Currently I see no tangible benefit to using public transport over a car, it costs roughly the same and is considerably less flexible.

Drop the cost and increase the quality, availability and reliability of public transport and the congestion would take care of itself.

Used public transport in germany a few years back and it was superb, maybe we should take a lead from our continental relatives...

wkdboy1, Hyde (22/03/2007 at 13:27)

I do not drive, I use public transport and I am very much against the road charging, It is wrong to charge people to go to work, to get shopping at large supermarkets cos they have shut down local shops, its wrong to charge people to travel any where like they are trying to do to drivers, no matter how much **** comes out of their mouths, i will not believe them, this government is out for one thing and one thing only, OUR MONEY, it wont be re invested in public transport, as they lie about everything, so stand up and tell them NO now, as you are paying their wages, and they have got to listen is enough people stand out side their offices and give them grief like they are giving us.

Dave Sherwood (22/03/2007 at 16:41)

My daughter works for a company in Central Manchester and they had the option of starting and hour earlier and finishing and hour earlier or starting later and finishing later. What a succes, out of the 50 staff who opted for a time change, none of the early or the late starters have been late in the last six months. The ony ones who are constantly late are the ones who stuck to the normal starting times. All staff who changed their worktime agree that the travel to and from work in now far better and NO JAMS. Something to think about.

PW, Manchester (22/03/2007 at 18:32)

Unfortunately Dave Sherwood, there is no money for the Council nor the Government in such ideas, however workable or sensible. I agree with you entirely, and know that setting off say 20-30 minutes earlier can often make a real and unproportionate difference in a journey time at that period of the day. They want the roads congested as much as possible, in order to get the public on their side, and so justify their new tax. There's been a long and expensive build-up to this.

Ms D, Manchester (23/03/2007 at 09:55)

PW, I have friends who work for the local council and they are dead set against the congestion charge. By the way, local council do in fact operate a flexible work system. They can start anytime between 7.30am and 10.00am and finsish between 4.00pm and 6.00pm.

Chris, Irlam (23/03/2007 at 11:08)

"PW, I have friends who work for the local council and they are dead set against the congestion charge. By the way, local council do in fact operate a flexible work system. They can start anytime between 7.30am and 10.00am and finish between 4.00pm and 6.00pm."

So I wonder if their bosses will set the 'peak C-Charge hours' accordingly so their working hours can conveniently fall outside of these? Shame those of us in the private sector do not have the luxury of choosing our hours....

jane Murphy (23/03/2007 at 12:17)

There seems to be a large determinining factor missing in terms of the MENs congestion charge coverage. other surveys show that the environment and global warming is a massive area of concern, and that most people would like government to do something about it. Similarly to the smoking ban, sometimes only legislation can change behaviour for the better, and we clearly need to get out of our cars. I drive in every day, and would switch to public transport if there was a cost involved. I think if the survey asked about environmenal change, and concern they would find their results different. If Mancunians had faith in a workable and convenient public transport system, alongside the environmental benefits, then Im sure they would be more open to this legislation.

Tony (23/03/2007 at 12:52)

Chris, Irlam.
I do believe that councillors will be exempt from the charge as it will be deemed that they are carrying out official council business.
ie: Getting to and from work.
Because without their attendance at said town hall our complete social infrastructure would collapse.

wkdboy1, Hyde (23/03/2007 at 13:37)

"Chris, Irlam. I do believe that councillors will be exempt from the charge as it will be deemed that they are carrying out official council business. ie: Getting to and from work. Because without their attendance at said town hall our complete social infrastructure would collapse."

I think what you meant to say that, if they didn't come to work at the town hall and stayed home we would be better off, because we wouldn't have to pay for their mistakes, like usual.

Chris, Irlam (23/03/2007 at 13:52)

Tony, I agree wholeheartedly.

I believe we need a 'change at the top' so to speak - so I appeal to ALL voters to use your vote on May 3rd and get rid of these conmen.

Lickyalips, London (23/03/2007 at 14:45)

As a Manc living in London, I urge you all to resist the introduction of a congestion charge. It will kill of business in the zone and will lead to some workers - including teachers and nurses etc. - who live outside the zone but work in it to leave their jobs as the cost of daily travel would be very prohibitive for those on low pay.
Having been subject to the congestion charging in London for some years now, I can only describe it as the operation was a success but the patient died.
Don't let your NuLabour money-grabbing councillors get away with it in Manchester.
Vote them out on May 3rd.

Ms D, Manchester (23/03/2007 at 14:48)

For those intending to vote against your Labour Councillor in Manchester in May, I can only urge you to vote for the Lib Dem candidate. In Manchester, the Lib Dems already represent 11 wards out of the 32. A few more wards and they can take control of a council run by arrogant, complacent Councillors who should be shown the door over this fiasco. I don't support any one party but only the Lib Dems have a chance in Manchester as there is not one Tory Councillor in this city.

Ace Riley (23/03/2007 at 15:01)

Ms D, Manchester
Once again i agree with you its time to show MCC that labours days are numbered in manchester they have become a law onto themselves (complacent) they think that labour will always win in manchester? they need teaching a lesson vote tory or any other party as long as its not labour..

Snare Drum, Ashton-under-Lyne (23/03/2007 at 15:04)

My partner is a mobile hairdresser and is on a low income due to most of her clientelle being pensioners. The "C" charge will put her out of buisness. I am disabled with MS and need to get to Hope Hospital for regular treatment. I also need the car to transport vital equipment of which would not be possible on "Public Transport". Many people will have simalar problems who will not be able to pay this highway robbery.

Tony (23/03/2007 at 18:43)

Hazel Blears boasted some weeks ago that Salford was a safe Labour seat, that is because the train of thought over the last 40 years by the people of the north west was that Labour was a working class, working mans political party that stood up for the little man in the street.
It's time to snap out of it because those days are long gone and NuLabour have shown nothing but contempt for the electorate whilst feathering their own nests for a very prosperous and lucrative future.
Vote them out on May 3rd and lets keep them out.

Regards, Tony,Irlam...ex Labour supporter.

Eddy, manchester (24/03/2007 at 08:26)

To Jane Murphy's comments
Wake up girl, global warming's a scam, the ICCP who produced the reports are all in the pay of gov's the reports done by scientist's that were not favorable were not included,there is No proof that CO2 has anything to do with global warming,
96.7% of CO is not man made,
This is just a band wagon gov have climbed on because it another way of making massive money out of it, another way to soak us,well it not coming off,I think the people have woke up and had enough of it. EDDY.

Paul D'Ambra (16/04/2007 at 13:27)

It is true that most of the CO2 in the atmosphere is not man-made... but then if I injected you with poison most of the molecules in your body would not be poison... does that mean you wouldn't seek treatment.

And Trafford have philosophical problems with charging?? I don't think so... They are happy to charge you £15 to pick up bulky rubbish from your house (unlike free in Manchester) They are just electioneering... don't walk into their trap

Snare Drum, Ashton-under-Lyne (21/06/2007 at 18:08)

Something like 60% of co2 emmisions come from plankton in the sea and another dollop from rotting vegitation on the forest floor oh and the cattle doing botty burps, we humans barely scrape the sides and so for a change we can all stand up and say "Was'nt me"

Alan M. Anobile (21/06/2007 at 18:42)

I am a motorcyclist of 26 years experience, I also own a car. I stongly object to yet another stealth tax for motorists in the form of the con. charge. My greatest point of objection is the way that we motorists pay 1) road tax 2) insurance 3) m.o.t. charges 4) tax on petrol. as well as the cost of maintaining and running our chosen form of transport. Whereas (and I am using these words after much thaught!) TOSSERS ON PEDAL CYCLES! Pay NONE of the above and still expect all the benefits of our roads, and treat other road users with utter contempt! Until something is done about charging the aforementioned for their use of our highways. I PERSONALLY WILL NOT PAY ONE PENNY CONGESTION CHARGE!

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