SOME of Manchester's top business leaders have thrown their weight behind congestion charging.
Figures like Urban Splash chief Tom Bloxham, Beetham Tower architect Ian Simpson and Artisan property pioneer Carol Ainscow have put their names to a letter in today's MEN which urges fellow bosses to back the plan.
The letter warns: "The reality is that there is no sensible alternative to the present plan. If we fail to deliver, it will mean no more major investment in transport, more and more congestion, smaller and smaller job markets and a serious economic slow down leading to ultimate decline."
The signatories include many of the biggest names behind the redevelopment of Manchester over the last decade, like Amec Developments managing director Matt Crompton, Bruntwood chief executive Chris Oglesby, Ask property developers chief executive Ken Knott, senior KPMG partner Malcolm Edge, and Radisson Edwardian manager Stephen Miles.
But the list of names does call into doubt the independence of the 15-strong panel set up by council chiefs to decide whether to go ahead.
For at least six of the names on the letter have direct links to members of the panel.
Urban Splash is represented among the signatories by Mr Bloxham and on the panel by deputy chief executive Nick Johnson. Chris Oglesby is the son of Bruntwood chairman Michael Oglesby - who is on the panel - and panel member John Early is an executive director of Amec, whose managing director Matt Crompton has signed the letter.
Argent Group's construction director Tony Giddings is a signatory, while his boss, chief executive David Partridge, is a panel member.
And lawyers Mark Barker of Cobbetts and Kate Oldfield of Davis Blank Furniss have both signed the letter, while their firms are represented on the panel by Stephen White and Peter Heginbotham.
As reported in the MEN last week, a survey carried out for Trafford Centre owners Peel Holdings showed four out of five businesses are opposed to congestion charging. And half of the 1,246 companies polled said it would put them off investing here.
The letter is a major boost in the plan to impose a peak-hour congestion charge of up to £5 a day in return for £3bn of public transport improvements from the government.
One of the leaders of the bid, Passenger Transport Authority chairman Coun Roger Jones said: "These people are the ones who are growing business in the region. That should carry a lot of weight."
What do you think of the congestion charge? Have your say.
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mark h buckley (29/06/2007 at 07:26)
me thinks councillor? jones is clutching at straws to justify this shambles.
2 days agao i received a brochure regarding the c-charge (no doubt everyone else did as well in manchester).
well i rang the number on the leaflet where it asks for comments - lo and behold it is only the travel line. in other words they do not want OUR comments. i then rang the pte publicity dept to ask who is responsible for this leaflet only to be told the guy in charge of publicity was on holiday, what a shambles.
it gets worse as i then asked who was in charge of taking comments from the public - only to be told that there are numerous people involved and the person in the publicity dept. could NOT give me one contact number.
so mr jones this proves that YOU and YOUR PANEL are NOT interested in what WE the PUBLIC WANT.
PW, Manchester (29/06/2007 at 07:45)
For at least six of the names on the letter have direct links to members of the panel.>>
The authorities have managed to get some industrial muscle behind their plans. There will be ancillary benefits for these industrialists, and no doubt the usual back-scratching by the Council. They don't speak for the smaller businesses, who are in the majority, and whose margins will be squeezed until they squeak. Needless to say, these particular people can afford the £5 a day without a bead of sweat. They're not talking for the ordinary working person. Don't be conned.
Dave Sherwood, Hollins Green (29/06/2007 at 07:57)
Forward with Frank (29/06/2007 at 08:10)
I don't work in the city centre but in the past seven years have bought two properrties and am about to move into a fantastic penthouse apartment. This is something that I have strived hard for and I can't wait to move in.
Fortunately city centre residents will be exempt from the congestion tax. However, this wasn't made clear by the council at first and I was so very close to pulling out of my property purchase. I was looking at moving out of the cit centre.
If residents do eventually have to pay then I will move out of the city centre. Once out I will have no reason to come back in. I eat out a few times a week, buy clothes in the city centre, use deli's, supermarkets, dry cleaners, theatre etc in the city centre. Save from holidays all of my diposable income goes to city centre businesses. I also pay a considerable council tax to Manchester Council.
If I move out I will move to Cheshire. City centre businesses will lose my trade and I am only one of many who feel this way.
All of my relatives live outside the city but say that onvce the congestion tax comes in to force they will not come into the city, but will just go elsewhere.
I really don't see how people can say that without it we can't build the new infrastructure. Believe me when the council tax comes into force less people will come into the city centre and therefore we will not need an expanded infrastructure.
London can get away with this but people have more choice to move out of Manchester and will. It will set manchester back decades in terms of growth an investment.
Forward with Frank (29/06/2007 at 08:20)
I think Ian simpson should be driven out of Manchester for designing that monstrous Beetham Tower. I am fortunate to have travelled very extensively and this is really one of the worst buildings that I have seen. Ugly.
Most of the aprtments are up for sale too and are in negativce equity. You only need to look at it in the evenings. There aren't any lights on. Save from the Hilton (where cupboard/wardrobes doors don't close properly) it is a white elephant. Why is it always so windy around there too. Why are the paving stones buckling?
A real wasted opportunity.
Pete (29/06/2007 at 08:22)
Forward with Frank (29/06/2007 at 08:31)
What are they bosses of? They are not employing thousands of people, as my boss does.
Anyway, I have just thought, if people do use public transport then we will need less car parks. Why not build offices/apartments on the car parks (as is being done - Village). Excellent idea. Who can develop on there? Why not this trio of 'bosses'.
Forward with Frank (29/06/2007 at 08:33)
Katie., Manchester (29/06/2007 at 08:56)
Pete (29/06/2007 at 09:47)
Batfink, Manchester (29/06/2007 at 10:42)
Simon B, www.manchestertolltax.com (29/06/2007 at 11:17)
Peel holdings did a proper independent poll of Greater Manchester business, they asked over a 1000 business, they did show them the proposals including the public transport plans despite what others claim in vain attempt to rubbish them.
80 percent still said they do not want the congestion charge.
Jolly Roger Jones and his cohorts did not like that
On Tuesday 27th just gone, three members of MART attended the neighbourhood forum at Altrincham Town Hall in Trafford that night.
In a show of hands, 2 to 1 opposed the congestion charge plans.
Dont Forget 2 of the 3 billions pound is a government loan they have to pay back with profits of the Congestion Charge, It will not stay at 5 pounds a day and only at rush hour for very long in order to pay back the debt, Look at Londons Congestion Charge now at 8 pounds a day after 18 months.
A referendum is needed to resolve this.
Manchester Against Road Tolls
www.manchestertolltax.com
www.naat.org.uk/manchester.htm
www.abd.org.uk/manchester_congestion_charge.htm
Petition
www.gopetition.com/online/12888.html
Andy, Wythenshawe (29/06/2007 at 11:23)
Actually, these people have SELF INTEREST at heart, their opinion carries NO WEIGHT.
Personally, I'm anti-car, but thinking that business leaders can hold a objective view on any issue is a joke.
ace, manchester (29/06/2007 at 11:36)
andylad (29/06/2007 at 11:40)
The MEN is absolutely right, these people are very closely linked to the so called 'Independent Panel' of business leaders that was set up by AGMA/GMPTE to 'advise' on the congestion charging proposals.
Roger Jones had the absolute nerve to criticise the recent poll of 1200 businesses that showed 75% against congestion charging as a 'set up'. What is this latest letter other than a complete set up - probably by the PR firm employed at great expense by AGMA/GMPTE who were of course until recently actually called 'Spin Media'?
Is this the best they can do? It's a pretty transparent attempt.
Simon B, www.manchestertolltax.com (29/06/2007 at 11:45)
www.gmfuturetransport.org/
What would happen if you didn't register your vehicle before driving across an active charging point?
Cars that do not pay the charge or have a valid tag will be captured by the cameras and the registered vehicle owner will be responsible for paying he charge, an administration fee together with a fine.
The fine has not yet been determined.
what a way to stop vistitors coming to Greater Manchester ever again when a big fine lands on the door step.
I have also trawled through their bid website and I have not found anything about an exemption for city centre residents.
I know 90 percent of London city centre residents are exempt, but to the best of my knowledge there is no planned exemption for any where in Greater Manchester
where have you read this.
Philipac, Northenden Manchester (29/06/2007 at 11:48)
Simon B, www.manchestertolltax.com (29/06/2007 at 12:00)
Peel Holdings own the Trafford Centre
they are opposed to the congestion charge.
www.traffordcentre.co.uk
If you look at the Trafford Centre Website you will see at the top in red is their statment that they are opposed.
and the statment has a link to the MART website.
www.manchestertolltax.com
Pete (29/06/2007 at 12:09)
moodyblu, Heald Green (29/06/2007 at 12:23)
I also think everyone should be encouraged to print and display the no charge icon from the website in their cars. You need to get some visibility.
Simon B, www.manchestertolltax.com (29/06/2007 at 12:34)
www.notolls.org.uk/images/martrob2.jpg
moodyblu, Heald Green (29/06/2007 at 12:53)
Forward with Frank (29/06/2007 at 13:00)
Apparently city centre residents won't be charged but I'm with you in that I think that eventually we will have to pay.
I have only got a certain amount of money so if I pay a fiver a day, roughly £100 per month, then that is a very good meal for two that I don't have onvce a month. No skin off my nose but a restaurant loses out.
I am angry about this charge even if I don't have to pay because I actually do like Manchester and know that this will have a detrimental effect on the city centre.
Yes it may be even result in less traffic but it will take a lot of people and businesses out.
My friend owns a florist employing seven eople and she is moving out before the charge and I know a large law firm who have only signed a short term lease because they too intend to move before the charge comes in.
When I work abroad I do use public transport but here it is dreadful. Litter on buses, thugs on them, smoking (thought it was banned), smashed up bus stops etc.
rammylad, ramsbottom (29/06/2007 at 13:44)
Ian S, your buildings are a disgrace. Get one of your young technicians to introduce you to the 'How to build with other materials except glass' textbook, maybe then your buildings will not pump out quite so much CO2 keeping them cool in the summer and warm in the winter. You are the biggest architectural pollouter.
ace, manchester (29/06/2007 at 14:18)
Clever marketing by certain companys who know the inside story? i dont know if the trafford centre is included within the charging area?.