DETAILS are to be unveiled of Greater Manchester's bid to introduce congestion charging in return for £3bn of public transport improvements.
The move comes as the government updated a draft bill, giving councils the power to bring in local road-pricing schemes. Those could, if successful, act as a pilot for a nationwide satellite-based `pay as you drive' system.
Greater Manchester is among 10 areas preparing to bid for money from a government fund for public transport - and introduce local congestion charges in return. Details of the Greater Manchester proposals - already revealed in part by the M.E.N. - will be formally unveiled on Friday by transport chiefs.
They want to complete the extension of the Metrolink and build new lines to the Trafford Centre and Stockport, as well as overseeing massive investment in trains and buses. That would be paid with just over £1bn from the fund, plus nearly £2bn more borrowed in advance and paid back with expected profits from the congestion charge.
It is expected the scheme will propose road charges on 15 highly-congested `corridors' radiating out from Manchester city centre beyond the M60.
Drivers would pay according to when they used roads within those corridors, and for how long. Charges may not apply outside peak hours and will not exceed £6 a day.
Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander stressed that the draft bill did not in itself provide powers for a national road pricing scheme. He said that any decision on a national scheme could only be taken after local schemes had been assessed. Separate legislation would be needed.
But shadow transport secretary Chris Grayling said that `despite the government denials, the truth is that this bill is a Trojan horse for national road pricing". Some 1.8m people signed a Downing Street website petition expressing opposition to any such scheme earlier this year. Other parts of the bill suggesting local transport chiefs should have more control over local buses were hailed in Greater Manchester as `the best news for bus passengers in 20 years'.
The bill - which still needs to be approved by parliament - would let local authorities use `quality contracts' to force private operators to run particular routes at particular times.
Roger Jones, of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, said: "It looks likely that we will finally have the powers to give local people reliable, affordable bus services that take them where they want to go."
What do you think of the congestion charge? Have your say.
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Simon B, Warrington (23/05/2007 at 09:50)
Note the introduction of the traffic commissioners.
These are unelected people who are placed in councils to ensure what the government wants happens. They have control over the elected representatives and can force road pricing onto a council who do not want it.
The requirement for consultation has been removed.
Be very afraid of this, it means if the GMPTA does come out of Labour Control and reject Road Pricing for Greater Manchester, the traffic commissioner can and would overrule them.
Also no consultation would mean no referendum.
Clauses 64 to 67 - Charging schemes may now include Passenger Transport Authorities acting with one or more local authorities.
Clauses 68 to 69 - Ditto for London.,br> Clause 70 - Schedule 4 Minor changes because of PTAs.
Clause 71 - Adds requirement, when considering whether to introduce a charging scheme, to consider effect on "level of emissions".
Clause 72 - English charging schemes will no longer need approval of Minister (Welsh schemes will continue to need approval of a Welsh minister).
Clause 73 - Removes power of English Minister to require that there is consultation before a charging scheme is introduced. (Welsh power remains.)
Clause 74 - Adds power to vary the amount of the charge according to different ways of "recording, administering, collecting or paying the charge".
Clause 75 - Adds power for the Minister to make regulations as the ways in which charges may be paid.
Clause 76 - Widens the definition of interfering with charge equipment, which is already an offence.
Clause 77 - Adds power for the Minister to regulate the manner in which tolls equipment is used.
Clause 78 - Adds power for the Minister to require information from charging authorities.
Clause 79 - Widens the extent to which information may be legally disclosed by Government departments and local authorities to the charging authorities.
Clause 80 - Power to charge for supplying certain information in Scotland.
Clause 81 - Removes the need for London charging authority to have plans for how any net proceeds from charging schemes are spent.
Clause 82 - Schedule 5 various minor changes.
We need to fight this now, today, or we will lose!