Bolton waits on c-charge vote

March 11, 2008

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A BID to give voters a referendum on the congestion charge on May 1 has been defeated.

Conservative councillors wanted Bolton to put the pay-as-you-drive proposals to the public vote on the same day as local elections.

Tory leader Coun John Walsh argued that holding a local election ballot and a referendum on congestion charging simultaneously would save around £200,000.

But both Labour and Liberal Democrats voted against the plan at an extraordinary council meeting.

Bolton is one of seven local which has supported a bid for £3 billion in public transport improvements partly funded by a congestion charge of up to £5-a-day.

So far, there has been no formal response from the government to the bid to its Transport Innovation Fund.

The Labour group in Bolton has promised it will not sign up to the congestion charge without a referendum.

However, Labour councillors say they want to wait until voters can be given the full facts about the proposals when the government responds to the TIF bid.

Labour leader Cliff Morris said: "I know what the people of Bolton want. They do not want the congestion charge but they might want to look at all the facts.

"The motion would deny the people of Bolton the right to have all the facts."

What do you think? Have your say.

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| Submit Comments | Comments (23) | Previous | Next

Showing comments 1 to 23 and replies | View All

ace, manchester (11/03/2008 at 10:57)

the labour dictators strike again. VOTE THIS LOT OUT.Labour the working mans enemy.they always burden the working man with generations of debt. NOTHING HAS CHANGED......

Leo B (11/03/2008 at 10:59)

Once again, those who know better than the man in the street have conspired together to ensure that the unwashed don't get the chance to become involved in matters which affect them directly. We saw it in the House of Commons last week, when the Liberals - to the delight of out Labour overlords - threw away our chance to have a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty - and here they are again, ensuring that we stay muzzled. It's a free country, innit?

Chris, Irlam (11/03/2008 at 11:04)

Hmmm....methinks Labour & the Lib Dems are showing their true pro-toll colours here. What's the chances that once May comes round & the elections have gone away they will be back on the pro-toll gravy train with all the other Labour councils?

Mayoral referendum ahoy!

paul teeque (11/03/2008 at 11:30)

Labour out!

wool being pulled over eyes once again

Graeme, Manchester (11/03/2008 at 11:44)

the last three posts seem to imply that the vote has been cancelled. I don't get this from the article - simply that it won't happen on May 1st.

polkyb (11/03/2008 at 11:46)

I wonder what the reason is that the government are staying quiet about the tif bid until after the May elections...

VOTE THEM OUT while you still can!

Jimc (11/03/2008 at 12:05)

Graeme,
I think what the last 3 posts you refer to are saying that when it comes time for the vote, it will be dropped and we will not get a say.
This Government are always moving the goal posts.

Richy007, Manchester (11/03/2008 at 12:32)

Let’s say goodbye to labour and to warn any other party who want to put the charge into place not to bother turning out to the polls.

Ex Labour Voter

Kurt Stephens, Sale (11/03/2008 at 12:37)

Surely this was the only logical way to hold a referendum.

How on earth could it be held on the 1st May when the population of Bolton would not have a clue what was actually in the TIF package?

What would have happened if the poll had proceeded, only for the agreed TIF submission to be different from what is in the public arena at the moment?

Another referendum? I'm sure that whichever side lost the vote, they'd demand a further vote as the original vote was on out of date information.

Rob., Cadishead (11/03/2008 at 12:56)

Have you watched the video link yet, they are giving the impression that Bolton is suffering from congestion but as the camera pans round you can clearly see the lane closed on the motorway.
I have been through Bolton in rush hour on many hundreds of occasions and have never been stuck in traffic yet, not like Irlam / Eccles

Black Sabbath (11/03/2008 at 13:04)

My my Kurt we are busy these days defending your beloved TIF bid 'aint we! Desperation perhaps? You lose!

ace, manchester (11/03/2008 at 14:57)

Just look at the mess the local road planners are making of our streets and roads we have speed humps that are great for the criminals when they steal cars and the rescue services are slowed down which in effect kills people. and the bus lanes that make four lane roads into two lane roads at the busy times of the day .its time to get rid of all these traffic calming syatems and start again.

jomov, Manchester (11/03/2008 at 15:09)

Here's a suggestion (tongue in cheek mind)

Why not move into all the empty city centre flats -therefore no requirement to commute!!

That is what I did 10 yrs ago - fantastic walk into work every morning!

Mark Spencer, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire. (11/03/2008 at 16:36)

Yet another suggestion(tongue in cheek variety:

Those who get mileage allowance to run their vehicles (councillors spring to mind here) must give lifts to their constituents.

The Thunderer (11/03/2008 at 16:46)

I see that the blinkers are out!

Did you know that on the 17th September 2007 at the Lib Dem Conference the following resolution was passed:
“We would encourage towns and cities to consider
introducing congestion charges where traffic is a
problem. The money would be invested in better
public transport and we would not proceed with major
new road-building schemes without an environmental
assessment. And we would promote safer cycle and
pedestrian routes throughout towns and cities”.

Just a piece of info of interest!

Simon B, www.manchestertolltax.com (11/03/2008 at 18:01)

some people dont work in the city centre!!!

paul teeque (12/03/2008 at 13:14)

James its a great walk until you get mugged/stabbed if any of the recent MEN stories are anything to go by!

Fran M, Stockport (12/03/2008 at 13:59)

Does anyone find it suspicious that the story 'Transport boss slams Peel' has bee taken down? Looks like shennagins to me.

jomov, Manchester (12/03/2008 at 14:37)

Paul - I presume you are referring to my comment!

Can't say I've particularly suffered in the hands of any muggers in the city but then I might just be lucky.

wkdboy1, Woodley (12/03/2008 at 15:38)

Maybe oger found he wasnt getting much support and asked for it to be pulled, you can not annoy and anger people and expect the to support you when you get as good as you give!

paul teeque (12/03/2008 at 15:39)

Fran M, Stockport

I was wondering that, perhaps it had too many replies on the message boards and crashed the article! ;- >

Sean Corker, Manchester (13/03/2008 at 09:38)

The Congestion charge as wrong in principle, or as Ruth Kelly put it "Issues of privacy and fairness remain".

Donna. Harpurhey (13/03/2008 at 10:23)

Easy solution. Just dont vote for the Liberal & Labour candidates at the local elections. They all eat out of the trough so getting a Tory council will make no difference at all to your every day lives except giving you a chance to travel in your cars to sunny Harpurhey for free and without the hindrance of running into a tram because we dont have any & wont have any even if this stealth tax on the working class is introduced.

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