Congestion charge pledge

Alan Salter

July 03, 2007

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Cllr Roger Jones

DRIVERS in Manchester will NOT have to pay three times to drive into the centre of Manchester, one of the architects of congestion charge plans has pledged.

Yesterday the M.E.N. revealed plans for three cordons that could trigger payments on the congestion charging scheme - depending on the time of travel.

But now it has emerged that motorists would only be charged for passing two cordons on any single journey and that the inner cordon would not necessarily trigger a charge.

Coun Roger Jones, chairman of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, said: "The Transport Innovation Fund bid proposals considered by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities at the end of May include a congestion charging scheme of two charging rings and £3bn of transport improvements.

"AGMA and the PTA have received a number of comments on the proposals, including a suggestion from Salford council leader John Merry. This proposal would not add to charges. There would be no third charge, but it would refine the trigger for implementing the second charge."

The M.E.N. reported yesterday that officials were examining Coun Merry's idea to introduce a third cordon around the city centre.

Coun Jones added: "We are now looking into the practicability of these proposals. All that has been proposed so far is that the outer ring would be at or near the M60, with the inner ring nearer the centre but with the route yet to be determined.

"Drivers would only be charged for crossing inbound (towards the city centre) between 7-9.30am or outbound between 4-6.30pm (away from Manchester city centre)."

"This principle of targeting congested roads at congested times is the cornerstone of the congestion charge proposals and should not be overlooked."

Coun Merry said: "My suggestion was simply that, in order to trigger the charge, people should have to cross two rings. It is not an extra charge but it would mean that people would have to travel a certain distance rather than just cross a single cordon."

In yesterday's M.E.N., the map of the possible congestion charge rings mistakenly said that drivers would pay £1 for driving out of the city during the morning rush hour and £2 to drive into the city in the evening. In fact, there will be no charge for driving in the opposite direction to rush hour traffic and motorists will drive for nothing away from the city in the morning and towards the city at night.

Coun Merry was not advocating that drivers should be charged three times on a single journey, but only that there should be three cordons that could trigger charges. Motorists who passed through all three cordons would only face two payments.

What do you think of the congestion charge? Have your say.

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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

lebist, Blackley (03/07/2007 at 10:21)

MEN if your in the business of spreading rumours at least get your facts right, or did the story come under the heading "too good to check"?

rammylad, ramsbottom (03/07/2007 at 10:45)

So if we travel away from Manchester we dont have to pay. Does that mean if we all reverse into Manchester we will also be exempt? I can see Mancunians become world leaders in reversing cars. Although it may take women a while to get to work.

ace, manchester (03/07/2007 at 10:48)

Well if thats the case Coun Roger Jones. Put your pension on the line sign a agreement to the affect thatb if the congestion charge costs more you will forfit your pension? thats fair enough..put your money where your mouth is.

Simon B, www.manchestertolltax.com (03/07/2007 at 10:48)

Emergency Meeting at the GMPTA this morning.

We need to limit the damage done by Peel Holdings this morning showing we could have 7 billion debt free by selling Manchester Airport and will not need the congestion charge.

It shows we do not need 3 billion pounds from the goverment that 2 billion of which is a loan.

I know, we will make a promise that we wont keep to try and shut them up.

Please do not let them.

Please please keep signing the MART petition.

please pass it around as much as possible

http://www.gopetition.com/online/12888.html

Please keep an eye on the MART website

www.manchestertolltax.com

It is in the proccess of an update.

You will see at the bottom the business that have joined as supporters.

Supporters

http://www.manchestertolltax.com/supporters.htm

Dave (03/07/2007 at 10:54)

Simon B - I don't think it would be 7 Billion 'debt free', as the airport article says that the private finance would be secured against future transport receipts.

Professor Bob (03/07/2007 at 11:25)

Mr Jones you are a member of Salford city council,who have proved time and time again that you cannot keep your word or tell the truth.If your silly council had not introduced traffic calming then most of the Salford congestion would not be there.You have yourself to blame.You asked Cadishead resident about traffic calming and then did the opposite making it a drivers nightmare.

moodyblu, Heald Green (03/07/2007 at 12:11)

Take a look here:

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/community/in_touch/

Its the letter from the so called business heads of Manchester who support the C Charge.

I suggest we avoid these companies when at all possible.

A Realist, Manchester (03/07/2007 at 12:28)

If you want to charge for going into the city centre then thats one thing, bu charging people for driving on the M60 is something totally different.

PW, Manchester (03/07/2007 at 12:47)

Mr Jones uses the word "pledge". I've been old enough to vote for a long time, and any "pledge" by a politician means nothing. Besides that, this further road-taxing concept is bigger than Mr Jones, who is really a puppet of the Government. Just don't fall for it. And while that face in the picture is clearly in front of a bus, you will never see it on one!

ruth davis (03/07/2007 at 12:52)

Why Councillor Jones such long periods eg:7-9.30 and 4-6.30pm. Everybody know the busiest periods are 7.45-8.45 and 4.45-6.00pm. have you extended the hours to grab extra cash from the poor motorist.You have given us proof that by picking such long hours you are committed to this money making scam.

had enough (03/07/2007 at 12:52)

I am confussed can someone tell me will we be charged for using the M60 for instance if you were traveling from Bolton to stockport, as you would not actually be traveling towards manchester?

PW, Manchester (03/07/2007 at 13:02)

had enough. It is simply because you will be forced to pay money over. No other reason.

Snare Drum, Ashton-under-Lyne (03/07/2007 at 13:18)

Mr Brown has said that he is going to give more power to the people, so Cllr Jones I suggest you start by listening to the people of Manchester and beyond and stick your C-Charge plans on the back of the fire before you get burnt.

Neutral (03/07/2007 at 13:43)

Had enough. No, under the proposed plans, you won't be.

Ms D, Manchester (03/07/2007 at 13:55)

had enough - I don't see how you could be charged for travelling along the road, without crossing it but this needs clarifying. It clearly says you would be charged when you cross from one zone to another which you would not be doing. Same with me, would I be charged to travel up Alan Turing Way without actually crossing it as I would turn off away from the centre ?
I don't trust anything this muffin faced man says and I am boycotting any business who supports the charge.

ace, manchester (03/07/2007 at 14:18)

Put your pension where your mouth is? Whatever you state now .if it changes you forfit your pension...PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS..If your so shure .

Tony (03/07/2007 at 14:29)

If you would like to meet Councillor Jones in person and put your questions to him this is his surgery.

Irlam Community Centre, Ferryhill Road, Irlam
Every Tuesday
6.30 p.m. - 7.30 p.m

tricia jonson (03/07/2007 at 14:56)

Here we go again - we wont - we wont - we wont, how many times have we heard that? until they apply the congestion charges and oops lets add another £1 here and there, I travel into Manchester daily, the traffic moves freely, there are lots of parking spaces. I worked in Burnage for a while it took me longer to drive there from Reddish than it does to get into central Manchester. What will happen if businesses decide to change their working hours, people who have families and need to get in and out to suit school hours will again be penalised, as ever the labour council/goverment just leaps ahead without thinking, will it be any better with a good old english prime minster, now which one is that, could it be that Scottish Chap Mr Brown, but who knows we may get a referendum the same as his home country did. We will have to wait and see.

ruth davis (03/07/2007 at 17:44)

Trica,johnson. Dick leese has said on TV and for the record,He does not want you taking children to school by car.I bet his children went to school by car.

Charly, Manchester (03/07/2007 at 17:47)

As a working mum who has a job in Manchester city centre - a car is a lifeline. I have to take and collect my child from the child minder each morning at specific times. I have no option but to use a car and no option but to travel within the proposed peak times. I can barely afford child minder fees let alone congestion charges on top - how does the government propose to support people in this position?

Ron Silver (03/07/2007 at 18:44)

Gordon Brown wants to give power to the people,well lets all write to Gordon and inform him that you will not vote for any labour party who supports the Manchester congestion charge.Mr Brown will need all the support he can get and will not like losing votes in any election,My letter is already on the way.I have informed him that I cannot vote for any Labour councillor or MP who supports the congestion charge.

Danny Butterworth, heywood (03/07/2007 at 19:50)

A very clever plan by the govt introduce congestion charge in London no national outcry does not concern us let them pay it.
Introduce it in M/cr, Londoners say we pay it why not them.
The same strategy nationwide and soon you will not be able to travel without incurring some form of travel tax.

Ron Silver (03/07/2007 at 22:02)

The london congestion charge is a totally different thing,many groups are exempt,but according to the loonie labour manchester plan everyone will pay,just a slight reduction for vunerable groups,councillors and friend etc.

Ken Neck, Droylsden (03/07/2007 at 22:56)

Holy Mackerel! What do these drivers want?
I went from Ashton bus station to Ancoats hospital seventeen times in nine days in 1970.
Rain, hail, wind! You never caught me whinging about bus fares (and Ancoats was rough in them days!).

Michael Bannister (04/07/2007 at 00:52)

Selling Manchester airport as Manchester's most profitable enterprise for the foreseeable future makes no sense.
For a start, congestion in Greater Manchester is not just Manchester's problem but the whole of Greater Manchester's problem so why should Manchester alone lose all it's profits year after year from this great airport while the rest of the co-owning authorities wouldn;'t have to. Also, if Manchester sold its majority holding,the airport's future direction would be totally out of the control of Greater Manchester. Is that acceptable to the Greater Manchester authorities ? This would be short termism at its worst.
Congestion in Greater Manchester and the proposed Congestion Charge with huge investment in public transport should be considered in detail from the point of view of how much it would cost for a wide variety of journeys at different times as well as considering the very large amount of government money that seems to be on offer to fund the congestion charge setting up and implementation and the very substantial improvements in public transport to tempt people off the roads. Peter Mandelson once said of Northern Ireland that the devil was in the detail in seeking an agreement. The Congestion Charge proposals are such a case in point. People are being asked to vote on an issue they practically know no detail about at all on your web site so as far as I'm concerned those percentages in favour of the Congestion charge or selling off Manchester airport are a worthless indication of what course of action Manchester should take.
Let's have much more detail of the costing of the Congestion charge and the improvements in public transport infrastructure in the initial stages of setting and the long term aspects of its funding and also consider the loss in income to Manchester each year and the repercussions of the loss (say in relation to council tax) if Manchester airport were to be sold.
I should also mention that obtaining the necessary capital to fund the public transport improvements muted whilst in theory providing a satisfactory alternative to using the car, without having a disincentive to not use the car may still leave a large majority using their cars so that congestion and all its implications could still remain.

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