SOME of the key players in the congestion charging debate are to appear in a televised Question Time-style show organised by the Manchester Evening News.
Council chiefs have until the end of the month to decide whether to bid for £3bn government cash to improve public transport in return for becoming a pilot area for road pricing.
Under the proposals, motorists face paying up to £5 a day to drive in and out of the centre of Manchester.
The M.E.N is arranging a debate on the issue next Tuesday, which will be held at Urbis and will be televised by our sister TV station Channel M.
Readers are invited to take part in a discussion about one of the most important issues facing the region.
Confirmed on the panel is
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester Council and one of the leaders of the bid team.
Sir Richard will debate with
Graham Stringer, his predecessor as city council leader, now MP for Blackley and a member of the Commons transport committee and a fierce opponent of charging.
Also opposing the charging proposal will be
Andrew Simpson
who, as managing director of Trafford Centre owners Peel Holdings, is one of the most powerful men in the region.
Representing the ordinary drivers will be
Sean Corker, who leads the pressure group Manchester Against Road Tolls, which has launched a petition against the idea.
The M.E.N has consistently led the way in reporting the plans by the 10 Greater Manchester councils to transform the way we travel to work.
Other members of the panel have yet to be confirmed and M.E.N. readers are invited to join the audience and put their own questions and comments to the experts. The debate will start at 7pm.
Click
here to see a map of the c-charge zones.
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TV debate on c-charge
July 11, 2007
Showing comments 1 to 16 and replies | View All
Simon B, www.manchestertolltax.com (11/07/2007 at 10:46)
I have seen him in action, he is a man not be underestimated.
He will use the "Doing nothing is not an option" line.
The "if we do not go for this when national road pricing comes, we will have lost 3 billion pounds of investment"
But no one party would dare as it is election suicide.
He will say we are in compition with other cities for the money.
Birmingham has gone very very cold on the idea.
He will scaremonger by saying that selling the airport will raise council tax by 20 percent.
Wrong, the interest on the money from the sale alone will bring nearly 5 times more money.
Of the money they are after, 3 billion, 2 billion is a loan.
Oh, and its AGMA/GMPTA/GMPTE that is asking for the loan off their own back, the government has not offered the extra cash yet, its is AGMA/GMPTA/GMPTE is asking for the 2 billion debt.
He says by losing it will cost 30000 new jobs, forgetting to mention by doing nothing we will still get 180000 new jobs.
Andrew Simpson of Peel Holdings says bringing in the charge will be a massive risk for Greater Manchester.
This man knows what he is talking about.
My own opinion is we will loose jobs from the ones we already have if Richard Leese and his Cohorts get their way.
It has already started.
Business is already moving out of the M60, William BMW is moving the Bolton the escape the charge.
Ask your self this, if you were a business person, why would you come to Congestion Charge Greater Manchester, when Leeds and Liverpool are Congestion Charge free, you will have big trouble recruiting in Greater Manchester, your delivery costs will be higher. You would not come.
ace, manchester (11/07/2007 at 10:57)
I think your right on? considering liverpool is the new city of culture and is the up and comming jewel in the northern crown it would be good business sence.....
Snare Drum, Ashton-under-Lyne (11/07/2007 at 11:22)
PW, Manchester (11/07/2007 at 13:04)
better off red (11/07/2007 at 13:16)
Just look at smoking bans in pubs, now the beautiful smoke free beer gardens are off limits to families in some pubs owing to them being reclassified as smoking areas.
The only way to cut congestion is to reduce the number of car owners on the road.
Walk your kids to school.
And before anyone moans. If the school is too far away, then either move nearer to the school or put your kids in a local school.
Pete (11/07/2007 at 13:34)
Simon B, www.manchestertolltax.com (11/07/2007 at 13:53)
Alas they have been in power so long now they think tha they are untouchable, they have lost touch.
MART Website
www.manchestertolltax.com
Anti Con charge petition
www.gopetition.com/online/12888.html
please pass it around please.
do what I did and emailed the MART website and petition to everyone in my email address book.
That is exactly how the 1.8 million petition started.
Simon B, www.manchestertolltax.com (11/07/2007 at 13:55)
Goater 30 (11/07/2007 at 14:04)
paul teeque (11/07/2007 at 15:08)
I unfortunetely can't make the debate, but if this old chestnut comes up can someone ask how £200 a year approx increase in council tax is better than £1200 a year congestion charge!!!
Simon B, www.manchestertolltax.com (11/07/2007 at 15:22)
and the interest on the 4 billion the inital sale of the airport would raise per annum if they just banked it is way more than the 25 million the airport paid out last year.
At the interest rate of 5.75 percent we have at the mo that would be 230 million a year.
Jack Tar, Tarporley (11/07/2007 at 22:08)
Simon B, www.manchestertolltax.com (12/07/2007 at 10:26)
Bolton council have backed the AGMA bid for the Con Charge.
Simon B, www.manchestertolltax.com (12/07/2007 at 11:06)
www.oldhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/230/230068_could_car_tax_cost_oldham_long_awaited_rebirth_of_hollinwood.html
rammylad, ramsbottom (12/07/2007 at 19:09)
I have been travelling to London for about 10 years now on various projects and traffic today was worse than I have ever seen it. Oxford Street, Bond Street and all the sides roads between were nose to tail taxis and delivery vehicles.
On a positive side with the traffic stationary crossing the raod was easy. Manchester is not London and R&R need to get their heads out of their butts and recognise that.
rammylad, ramsbottom (14/07/2007 at 22:55)