LIBERAL Democrats in Greater Manchester were at war today as the region's congestion charge bid hung in the balance.
Alan Taylor, Lib Dem leader of Rochdale council, branded colleagues in Bury `selfish' after they teamed up with the Tories to withdraw support for a £3bn bid to the government for public transport cash.
The bid - which would include a peak-hour congestion charge of up to £5 a day - needs the backing of two thirds of Greater Manchester's 10 councils in order to go through.
Lib Dem-held Stockport and Tory-controlled Trafford have declared their opposition.
Supporters of the bid are keeping an eye on Bolton, which is run by Labour, but without an overall majority. The Tories and Lib Dems could team up to unseat the leadership and form an anti-charge alliance.
Roger Hayes, leader of the Lib Dem group, said: "We were happy for the bid to go in, on the understanding we could still not go ahead when we found out the facts about what was on offer.
"We are waiting to hear the government's response and then we will evaluate it."
Earlier Coun Taylor had reaffirmed Rochdale's support for the bid, saying: "The bid will bring in huge investment for our trams, trains and buses.
"The timing of Bury council's decision smacks of opportunism. Responsible civic leadership is about making tough but important decisions that improve people's lives. That is what the bid is all about. The Conservatives and the Lib Dems in Bury are opportunistic to say the least and selfish."
Coun Taylor said he had come under `enormous pressure' from the Labour party to withdraw support for the bid, which would include a £1.2bn grant and permission to borrow £1.8bn more to transform the region's trams, buses and trains.
"This is despite the fact their leader (Alan Brett) is the vice chair of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority," said Coun Taylor.
"It's time to leave politics behind and unite behind this bid."
What do you think of the congestion charge? Have your say?
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Chris, Irlam (14/12/2007 at 11:33)
paul teeque (14/12/2007 at 11:37)
PATHETIC!
Its time to ask the public and give them what they want A REFERENDUM
Batfink, Manchester (14/12/2007 at 12:04)
S P In exile, Tameside (14/12/2007 at 12:07)
Money that has gone to London, 4bn that was located for the regions has been lost to London through the Olympics.
Come on councillors you want the votes earn them or is it easier for you to sit on your backside and bleed the electorate instead.
Rob (Manchester Against Road Tolls) www.manchestertolltax.com, Denton (14/12/2007 at 12:26)
What right have they got to tell us how to improve our lives? The opinion of the public should be sought on such an important matter. Basically, what this numpty is saying is that we are too thick to understand the plans and decide for ourselves what is right for us.
S P In exile, Tameside (14/12/2007 at 12:29)
He also adds. The bid will bring in huge investment for our trams, trains and buses.
I am sorry but it is not up to the electorate to line private company’s pockets with our money. That is not being responsible, when will these councils get it into their heads that the buses and trains are a private enterprise. The people who run and own these companies are multi millionaires
The borrowing of 1.8bn I would call irresponsible a debt that he won’t have to worry about repaying it is our children’s, children’s, children who will pay for this horrendous amount of debt. If they go ahead and borrow this money it is only the money that has been taken of us to be given to London. We are being starved of regional money this money is ours and this government has systematically took it away from us year on year.
So councillor Taylor start being responsible to the electorate and get our money back that is why you have been elected to do responsible work for the people who put you there.
Ms D, Manchester (14/12/2007 at 13:19)
Timberman, MANCHESTER (14/12/2007 at 13:29)
'Civic leadership' is also about listening to the people or have they forgot about that while sitting in their ivory towers. We still live a democracy (allegedly).
Snare Drum, Ashton-under-Lyne (14/12/2007 at 13:48)
Big Blue Doris, Lower Lymm (14/12/2007 at 14:04)
Simon B, www.manchestertolltax.com (14/12/2007 at 14:07)
The reason they backed out is MART has the Mayorial petition to the figures required, plus a safty margin, to legally force the "Should we, or should we not have a directly elected Mayor" instead of the councillors referendum.
The Thunderer (14/12/2007 at 14:27)
At the Lib Dem Conference this year, it was agreed "We would encourage towns and cities to consider introducing congestion charges where traffic is a problem. The money would be better invested in public transport and we would not proceed with major new road building schemes without an environmental assessment. And we would promote safer cycle and pedstrian routes throughout towns and cities"
Is Lib Dem led Stockport now going to follow Bury and re-consider its position, as Lib Dem Rochdale supports the congestion charge?
Bet not!
ken and sue, langworthy (14/12/2007 at 14:44)
Josie Hamnett (14/12/2007 at 14:59)
The chaos on Manchester roads is a direct result of privatisation of the buses leading to war between the companies for the best paying routes and nothing for others.
bring the buses back into public ownership sit back see what happens and let's have the congestion charge debate then.
The only reason congestion charge works in London is because of TFL.
Darren H - A-U-L, Ashton U Lyne (14/12/2007 at 14:59)
paul teeque (14/12/2007 at 15:18)
paul teeque (14/12/2007 at 15:40)
The Thunderer (14/12/2007 at 15:55)
ken and sue, langworthy (14/12/2007 at 15:57)
Darren H - A-U-L, Ashton U Lyne (14/12/2007 at 16:45)
Darren H - A-U-L, Ashton U Lyne (14/12/2007 at 16:53)
There are issues other than road funding we need to consider!
Rob (Manchester Against Road Tolls) www.manchestertolltax.com, Denton (14/12/2007 at 17:24)
www.tamesidemart.co.uk
S P In exile, Tameside (14/12/2007 at 18:04)
rammylad, ramsbottom (14/12/2007 at 19:02)
Northern Rock closely check their applicants and only offer them a loan if they are tripple A rated applicants, i.e. they are very able to pay the money back. Yet despite this they are close to collapse.
Manchester are going to apply for a loan to a bank or the BoE and as a business case will say nobody wants to pay it back and are going to take us to court. Surely that makes trickie dickie a tripple D borrower. Why would any one give him a dime. You would have to be mad. The loan will never be repaid.
Paprika, Rochdale (15/01/2008 at 15:28)