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.”
What do you think? Have your say.
C-charge: Most bosses arrive in cars
July 28, 2007
Comments
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Councillor Oldham of Tameside said he would have used the tram if he'd been travelling to Manchester. I wonder where the tramline is from Ashton or Mottram?
I suppose Duckinfield Town Hall isn't the most central location to get to...
however even if this meeting of the "big hitters" had been in Manchester I bet they'd have driven...
because...
"it's different for them".
To have driven to Bury Town Hall, yards from the Metrolink was a disgrace
Jones and Merry should both get awards, they let an Industrial estate be built in Irlam, then a new single lane bothways bypass.All that did was cause congestion in Eccles.People from Warrington,Hollins green,Cadishead and Irlam all have to go down the A57 single carriage way until they reach Boysnope and the get a mile of Dual carriage converging into a sing lane and Peel green roundabout,there you get people from Brookhouse and vehicle going on and off the M60.This causes congestion of their making.Do built and indutrail estate and hundreds of new homes and expect the single lane roads to be enough.
All these people should be banned from using cars for the next 10 years (and from claiming expenses for their travel).
Maybe then Manchester will get the cheap, reliable and clean public transport that would make it a viable alternative to using the car.
Without this, congestion charging is just another tax.
After reading the article I agree that for them the methods they used where the best.
The whole point of this is to win funding so they can stop using their cars.
MEN, stop being bias just because you do not support the congestion charge and leave the councillors alone.
Sir Richard arrived by bus (a transparent and cheap publicity stunt) but he left in a private hire minibus!! I gave the driver one of the anti-toll stickers as they were leaving. I wonder if he used it?
¿If there had been a direct train, we would have taken it.¿
Well this could apply to most travellers?Ive heard that people take two buses and a train to get to work why didnt they show willing.direct trains was no excuse.
Tony Blair once said in an interview "Polls, Polls you can make them mean whatever you want", thats when asked what he thought of the Conservatives being three points ahead.Seems Dick Leese and Jones are taking a leaf from his book.
18 minutes Oldham to Dukinfield! Who's he trying to kid.If the buses kept to the time-table it would be 24 mins plus the time spent changing at Ashton, not much change out of 30 mins. Not an unreasonable journey, so what's the point in telling porkies.
Professor bob - just wait til Salford council builds the new RL stadium along the Barton Stretch....the congestion then will dwarf what you see now believe me!
As for this story it's just the usual 'Do as I say don't do as I do' from our 'esteemed' leaders....and they will all no doubt be exempt from paying the Toll Tax anyway.
Simply sickening.
Could we please have a list of names of all the councillors who have voted for this and those who havnt?this way we have the democratic right to choose the councillor we want to vote for in each of the wards in manchester.this should be made available for everybody .i know my local councillor "Neil Swannick" voted for the congestion charge.that is why i will never vote for him.
Form a well known phrase: Farm,Pigs Animal !!
A certain Mr. Leese was seen getting out of his car and getting onto a bus barely two stops before Dukinfield Town Hall - alegedly
Naughty Naugthy
If I hear Richard once more say the majority of people are behind this I will cut my wrists.
13000 online signing a poll against,
2000 signitures from one day in manchester
6500 on 10 downing street website against.
Everyone I know in work and outside of work are against it.
2500 people who were asked a leading question were in favour.
Just how, for gods sake, just how do you compile the statement that most people want this.
If this happened in Africa or Iraq we would be asking the UN to step in and end the dictator ship.
While you are looking into this ask the councillors how many get free parking at the airport as part of the perks of the councils owning the company. Then you will realise why they don't want to sell this asset to pay for solving the congestion on the roads.
The fact that AGMA is a voluntary organization, it is not an official government body, no rules, no regulator, no legal standing, all it is, is a means for the 10 councils to meet.
AGMA should only ever work on a consensus basis because of that.
All it did on Friday was work as a tool of GMPTA/GMPTE and give them "approval".
And as for working over the weekend, you can bet the bid was already printed and ready to go on Friday.
GMPTA and the leaders of AGMA is the real problem, basically, your councillors, write to them, and some pushy members of the executive too(senior council employees)
You need to convince your own councillors they will lose their positions in May 08
Anybody notice that advert on TV for oats and more, is that Dick leese other job,spitting iamge of him.