Crunch vote for C-charge

Chris Osuh

April 28, 2008

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VOTERS go to the polls on Thursday in council elections which could decide the fate of congestion charge plans.

Bury and Bolton councils both hang in the balance and either could deliver a knockout blow to proposals for a pay-as-you-drive scheme.

In Bury, where currently no party has overall control, the Conservatives need three seats to achieve a majority. And, in Bolton, another hung council, the Conservatives need nine seats of the 20 being contested to take control.

If the Tories take control of either, they could scupper plans to bring in a congestion charge to help pay for £3bn improvements in public transport.

Of the remaining eight Greater Manchester authorities, Labour controls Manchester, Salford, Oldham, Tameside and Wigan, the Liberal Democrats are in charge in Rochdale and Stockport, and the Conservatives in Trafford.

The Tories are hoping to make gains in Salford, where the party enjoyed some successes in the 2007 election. Tory leader David Cameron visited the city for the third time this year last week.

Protect his seat

Coun Roger Jones, chair of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, will be looking to protect his seat in Irlam, while the electorate has the chance to show how they feel about congestion charge plans.

Similarly, Manchester council leader Sir Richard Leese's seat is up for election in Crumpsall. Manchester city centre is in the Conservatives' sights, as is Whalley Range, where Faraz Bhatti's defection from the Lib Dems gave them their first seat in the city for more than a decade.

The Lib Dems will be looking to maintain their majority in Stockport, and hope to close the gap on Labour in Manchester.

In Warrington, which is an associate member of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, the Lib Dems are the biggest party, but have no overall control.

They need two seats to achieve a majority, while Labour, who trail them by just three seats, will be looking to do the same.

The Lib Dems have a slender grasp on power in Rochdale, so both Labour, who trail them by 12 seats, and the Tories, who have just eight councillors, will be looking to make gains.

Labour has a large majority in Tameside and Wigan but the Tories and Lib Dems will aim to make inroads.

In Oldham, Labour hold a one-seat majority. The Lib Dems, with five fewer councillors, will look to snatch control.

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Showing comments 1 to 22 and replies | View All

Fran M, Stockport (28/04/2008 at 10:01)

Another dishonest headline from the M.E.N!

dessie, manchester (28/04/2008 at 10:10)

why should drivers fund public transport they pay enough already?????

Mike (28/04/2008 at 10:13)

"Coun Roger Jones, chair of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, will be looking to protect his seat in Irlam"

You bet your life he's trying to protect his seat, but somehow I don't think he will......be a good boy and close the door on your way out Mr Jones

paul teeque (28/04/2008 at 10:15)

Thanks for bringing this up before the election MEN :- )

Basically bar Stockport who are Lib and already oppose the C-Charge - everyone else opposing the C-Charge needs to be voting Tories in my humble opinion.

Love Paul X

The Rt Hon Dr Rev MC Spanner MP QC FCA FRICS JP OK (28/04/2008 at 10:21)

A poor assessment if you ask me.

A. It would need both Bury and Bolton to kill the charge. Bury is already under a Conservative Leader and have signalled their intention to veto the C-Charge

B. It could be stopped in Bolton if the Conservatives become the largest party and the Lib Dems back them instead of Labour. As in Rochdale the Lib Dems seem to be backing the charge

C. Stockport needs to bit less Liberal and a bit more Tory to stop the Council from changing it's mind. You know it will if there are no more elctions for two years.

D. Rochdale & Oldham could end up in NOC so a vote for an anti- C Charge ticket may hold the Balance

E. Defeating Con-Charge supporters anywhere will send out a strong message.

polkyb (28/04/2008 at 10:42)

I noticed that tricky stopped spouting about the CON charge at the start of the year... Maybe he's trying to keep his seat by staying out of the spotlight... You’ll should all take note that Richard Leese in 2005 was dead against CON charging, however, in 2006 he received a knighthood and by 2007 he was well up for it.

I think Roger is history as a councillor... He'll have to make do with a consolation position as director of First or Stagecoach... or maybe he can be the man who sits on the board of the CON tax company?

Cynical?... I ain’t even warmed up yet!

Mark Spencer, Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire. (28/04/2008 at 10:54)

"Crunch vote for C-charge "

It's an irrelavancy to most people. Just as last year when Gordon Brown said that he was doing away with the the 10% band on income tax - very few bother till it hits em!
The labour guy in my ward is the ONLY one to stick owt through the letter box. He oversaw the closing of two local post offices, bad planning on council projects, a deteriorating of local council services etc - yet he will still get in. The other parties let him by their unwillingness to campiagn agin him

Timberman, MANCHESTER (28/04/2008 at 11:14)

Let's just hope the voters make their feelings known and get rid of the councillors who only want to feather their own nest's at the public's expense.
Nice picture, more than one
person in each vehicle.

Chris, Irlam (28/04/2008 at 11:15)

Vote Community Action Party in Irlam on Thursday if you want to see Jolly Roger Jones walk the plank! And who doesn't!

Agree with Fran RE: the headline, since only 1/3 of councillors are up for re-election this is by no means a vote on the Toll Tax....only a dedicated referendum would give us that vote.

And as the MEN keep forgetting to mention, it is a £1.2 billion bribe with a further £1.8 billion loan that is on offer - not £3 billion of 'free' money as the pro-toll trolls keep making out!

Timberman, MANCHESTER (28/04/2008 at 11:48)

It would appear the censor is alive and well.
Happy red pen day.

alvinlwh (28/04/2008 at 12:47)

"Arson attack stop trains"
"Attack on ex-policewoman on the tram"
Will the CONcharge stop things like that? I think not!

PW, Manchester (28/04/2008 at 12:55)

"Crunch" will make a lovely sound when these proposals arrive at their inevitable fate.

stacy (28/04/2008 at 13:02)

I urge the residents of Irlam and Crumpsall more than most. Get out on May 1st and Vote.
It appears that the only way to get your point across and it to make a difference to these people, is VOTE THEM OUT.
If Richard Lee's and Roger Jones get back in I think it will be the final nails in the coffin for us all.
Let them know- No we are not happy and NO we will NOT be taken for a very expensive ride.

ace, manchester (28/04/2008 at 17:15)

Richard leese has kept a low profile over the last few months dont let labour con you all again.Why should the public fund private enterprize? why should taxpayers/ratepayers money line the pockets

Call me Dave, Manchester (28/04/2008 at 18:20)

I suspect that whatever the vote all parties will claim victory.

As has been said it is amusing to (not) see Sir Dickie support his toll tax scheme!

At least Ken Livinstone stands up for his con charge principles, our own cut price Ken is no where to be found.

Call me Dave, Manchester (28/04/2008 at 18:30)

The readers in Manchester might be interested in the figures that Nottingham released for a congestion charge in the city. The City climbed down the next day claiming they weren't going to but - The figures are;

Set up costs - £750 million
Running costs - £70 million per annum
Revenue left - £69 million per annum

Yes thats right over half the revenue goes into running costs with £3/4 billion to install! Is this why Manchester council is hiding their costs?

Taken from the Nottingham Post
It is expected it would cost £750m to introduce across the 6Cs area. It is hoped the Department for Transport would pay for most of it - but it could involve loans and locally-raised sums.

If the Government agrees to pick up the tab for implementing the scheme, the annual costs would be about £70m.

This would leave a £69m annual profit - which legally has to be ploughed back into public transport like the NET tram

paul teeque (29/04/2008 at 10:41)

Dave nice findings ;- )

I just hope the masses use their vote wisely on May 1st and get the labour government out of manchester.

Paul

S P In exile, Tameside (29/04/2008 at 12:30)

The local elections are upon us and I bet not one candidate is not going door to door selling this idea to the electorate, the reason why they won’t do it is because they know it is a vote loser.

Fran M, Stockport (29/04/2008 at 15:16)

I have emailed the councilor standing for re-election here in Reddish about the CON tax. The response? Absolute silence! Not even an acknowledgment.

Call me Dave, Manchester (29/04/2008 at 22:38)

Sir Dickie Leese claims that the congestion charge isn't an issue at the elections!!!!!

Fran M, Stockport (30/04/2008 at 06:41)

Very touchy censors.

Chris, Irlam (30/04/2008 at 08:48)

"Very touchy censors."

Pro-toll so what do you expect?

Resistance is futile!

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