THE last time council bosses met to debate congestion charging at a key meeting, all of them got there by car.

Six months on, the M.E.N. can reveal that most haven’t learned their lesson.
 
Eight of the 10 leaders of Greater Manchester’s councils went to the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) meeting at Dukinfield town hall by car. All eight, however, car-shared. But Only two used public transport.
 
In January, the M.E.N. captured all 10 leaders arriving by car at the first AGMA meeting to debate the pay-as-you-drive scheme at Bury town hall.
 
That venue was just 200 yards from a Metrolink stop.
 
The leaders or the representatives of all 10 local authorities in the region, as well as other senior councillors, attended the latest meeting.
 
Manchester council leader Sir Richard Leese, who was dropped off at the Bury meeting by the council’s chauffeur-driven car, this time hopped on the bus to get to Dukinfield.

He said: “I took the 218 service from Manchester. It took me about 35 minutes. I’m a regular user of public transport.”
 
Oldham’s leader, David Jones, took two buses – and said it was quicker than driving.
 
He caught the 409 to Dukinfield from Oldham, with a change to the 330 in Ashton.
 
He said: “It took 18 minutes because of the bus lanes, it’s quicker than by car.”

Worst offender was Tameside Council leader Roy Oldham whose trip from nearby Mottram took 30 minutes – in a council-owned BMW. He said he would have used public transport ‘if it had been good enough’. He said: “If I was going to Manchester, I would go on the tram.”

Alan Taylor, leader of Rochdale council, car-shared and the took him 30 minutes.

He said: “We came by car share from Rochdale and went to Manchester to attend another meeting.
 
“I then had to attend another meeting, using tram and train to get there. The public transport is not good enough and that is what the bid is about. I would love to be able to use it, but it is not there yet.”
 
Susan Williams, leader of Trafford council, shared a car with three other councillors. She said: “The journey took me 20 minutes.”
John Merry, leader of Salford council, shared a car with a colleague. He said: “I got a lift and through the car share, I was helping the environment. The journey took 30 minutes.”
 
Coun Cliff Morris, leader of Bolton council, travelled 40 minutes by car from Bolton.
 
He said: “I came by car as I had another meeting in Bolton. I didn’t hit the congestion charge times.”

Dave Goddard, of Stockport, leader, also car-shared for a 25-minute journey.

AGMA chairman Lord Peter Smith, leader of Wigan council, was unable to attend, but deputy council leader John O’Neill and deputy chief executive Sue Johnson .

Bury council leader Bob Bibbey was also unable to attend, so deputy leader Yvonne Creswell and assistant chief executive Ruth Fairhurst car-shared.

Coun Creswell said: “If there had been a direct train, we would have taken it.”

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