A WAR of words erupted today as the way was cleared for Greater Manchester to introduce a congestion charge.
Transport minister Rosie Winterton was visiting the region to confirm the success of the bid to spend £3bn revolutionising trams, trains and buses.
But that will only happen if Greater Manchester signs up for a peak-hour congestion charge - at up to £5 a day - stretching as far as the M60.
It would be the country's biggest road-pricing scheme and the first in any major city outside London. Graham Stringer, MP for Manchester Blackley, said the charge was `politically and economically' a bad idea.
He said: "This is an experiment for the government but it is not an experiment for us.
"It is fundamentally changing the nature of the Greater Manchester economy so that billions of pounds have to be taken out of a relatively small number of pockets."
But Tony Lloyd, MP for Manchester Central, said congestion was holding back the local economy, adding that without the charge some 30,000 new jobs could be lost to the region.
And Sir Richard Leese - leader of Manchester council - said the combined investment-plus-charge package was `very clearly in the long-term interests of the conurbation'.
Permission
The M.E.N. revealed on Saturday that the government was going to announce today that it had accepted Greater Manchester's bid to the transport innovation fund (TIF). The bid was for £1.2bn in grant cash, plus permission to borrow £1.8bn more against 30 years' proceeds from the charge.
Ministers made clear TIF was conditional on towns and cities being prepared to introduce local road pricing schemes. Apart from Greater Manchester only Cambridgeshire has lodged a formal bid.
The charge itself would require motorists to fit special tags to their car windscreens, which would be electronically scanned.
There would be two charging `rings' - one around the M60 and one nearer the city centre - with motorists charged only if they travelled in certain directions at peak hours. Vehicles would pay more for passing through both rings, up to a maximum of £5 a day.
The charge would not be introduced until late 2012 when most of the transport improvements - including the extension of the Metrolink to the airport, Trafford Centre and Oldham and Rochdale town centres - should be complete.
The government's announcement, will trigger a 12-week public consultation. The 10 councils of Greater Manchester will then vote on whether to accept the deal - with current rules requiring seven to say yes if it is to go ahead.
Labour-run Manchester, Salford, Wigan and Tameside are in favour, as are Lib Dem-held Rochdale, and Oldham, where no party has a majority. Trafford and Bury - controlled by the Tories - are against, as is Lib Dem-run Stockport. Bolton has pledged a local referendum.
Sean Corker, of pressure group Manchester Against Road Tolls, said: "Gordon Brown and (Transport Secretary) Ruth Kelly are announcing a new motoring tax when there is growing unrest over increases in existing motoring costs."
What do you think? Have your say.
Tweet
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
antcaz (09/06/2008 at 10:17)
alvinlwh (09/06/2008 at 10:51)
Chris, Irlam (09/06/2008 at 10:55)
What odds will you give me on this NOT being the case when it comes to it?
And what about other areas of GM? Not all of us have Metrolink anywhere near us you know!
Why should we subsidise a service that is of no benefit to us and is run by a profit-hungry corporation?
Laura Norder, Didsbury (09/06/2008 at 10:56)
You'll be standing all the way to work then... with all those splinters in your backside through fence-sitting.
The C-charge is the future - deal with it.
S P In exile, Tameside (09/06/2008 at 11:00)
S P In exile, Tameside (09/06/2008 at 11:01)
1.6 billion pounds pre-tax profits. These profits are well and good but when the CEO gets paid 305,581 pounds in bonuses is that not a slap in the face of the travelling public, why should we the public finance private companies just to line the pockets of the bosses.
Our councillors and MPs should be fighting tooth and nail for this money with no strings attached it’s their job, no they would much rather sit on their big fat backsides and take the easy option. This 1.8 billion pounds that the councillors want to borrow is money that should be ours it’s ours because we have been starved of this money over the years.
Bus deregulation according to the transport select committee in Oct 2006 have stated that deregulation in the bus service have shown that it does not work and cannot be made to work, MPs have warned. Bus passenger numbers have been falling since the 1950s and deregulation has done little to halt this London buses are regulated and have seen passenger numbers rise.
PW, Manchester (09/06/2008 at 11:04)
If the only alternative to Labour was the Raving Monster Looney Party, then I would still have no qualms about ticking their box at the polls. I'm sure their policies would be more sensible.
ethanretrick (09/06/2008 at 11:11)
My fear is that they'll try and do both at the same time.
I despair at this labour government - time and time again they shoot themselves in the foot. The 10p tax, crewe and nantwich, congestion charges, the list goes on.
I don't know about the lib-dems, I'm voting tory!!
BOBTILTD, URMSTON (09/06/2008 at 11:20)
Sign up at
www.stopthecharge.co.uk
Karney for head of GMPTA(formerly MC Spanner) (09/06/2008 at 11:21)
Does that mean somebody will finally ask the public? I thought not. I would be surprised if Bolton actually allow the referendum in Bolton. The election is over - would it not be true to form to promise a referendum and then cancel it (look at the EU referendum)
I hate to say this because it is not something I believe in but as Labour and the Liberals are ganging together to force this through, the broughs need to follow the example of Bury and use the mayoral option. If 5% of the borough sign a petition then the council must hold a referendum on a Mayor. The Council can then be controlled by the mayor who could reverse this decision.
Geoffrey Berg and MART picked the wrong borough to start in with Bury which is already anti-charge. They should now go out to Rochdale, Oldham, Tameside,Salford, Bolton, Stockport & Wigan and get these referendums up and running. It only needs two boroughs to join Trafford and Bury in opposing this, assuming Stockport turn tail.
Forget Manchester - They are going to benfit from this and pay the least. This is nothing more than a tax on the suburbs to pay for The City Centre. No wonder Tony Lloyd loves it. The Majority of Manchester is in the inner ring they will therefore pay less. They will get the most Metrolink Stations out of this deal.
Charles Light (09/06/2008 at 11:41)
Mr Angry, Bury (09/06/2008 at 11:42)
Excuse to increase tax, nothing more, I am TOTALLY against this and another thing. How is it that public transport used to be paid for and provided without these excessive taxes? Who paid when the original trams/trolleybuses were introduced years ago?
Why do we have it now??
Dave (09/06/2008 at 11:42)
The the Tories have previously said that they would go down the national road pricing scheme route too..
MsD, Manchester (09/06/2008 at 11:46)
MarkParis, Paris (09/06/2008 at 11:50)
In the know (09/06/2008 at 11:55)
I like you have reached the end having supported Labour all my life. However I'm a little torn as to where my vote will go in the future. All the mainstream parties at a national level support this policy as far as I can make out.
It is only when you come down to the local level where there are differences.
Now would be a good time for the parties concerned to explain their point of view on the subject.
One thing that is clear is that this is another tax on those who are willing to go out and work for a living at a time when people are already feeling the pinch.
I find it absurd that a party which recently felt the backlash on the 10p tax meaning people losing out on a couple of hundred pounds can, a number of weeks later put forward a suggestion that will add at least £1200 to those travelling to and from Manchester at peak times.
My only explanation is that it is a calculated risk where they are willing to discount those with feelings against the scheme. I urge anyone who is posting here just spend a little extra time to write to you Local Councilor and MP to explain your thoughts.
The ‘consolation’ that is about to take place is meant to be a time when they will listen to you let’s see if they do.
Not a selfish motorist (09/06/2008 at 11:57)
Riff (09/06/2008 at 11:59)
Yet again, the public wont get a chance to have thier say as we are not allowed a referendum. Rising fuel prices, an added 2p tax coming in October, the con charge, the ID card plan. Rising prices and increased government control, I'm moving out of this country as soon as I can afford it.
Chipper, CIty center (09/06/2008 at 12:00)
So if they are charging motorbikes too for causing congestion, then where the hell are we supposed to put the tag? I't will just get nicked.
Our office will relocate if this does come in.
Mark, South Manchester (09/06/2008 at 12:01)
Deb (09/06/2008 at 12:03)
We're going to be expected to pay at least an additional £1200 per year - but where from???
I'd be happy to use public transport IF it was clean, safe and reasonably readily available - but it's not and probably never will be!
How many more ways can this government screw us over?
dessie, manchester (09/06/2008 at 12:06)
SO ITS A FAREWELL!!!!
JNC, Stockport (09/06/2008 at 12:06)
When all the alternatives have been running for 6 months, to allow people to adapt their travel patterns, then I see no reason why it could not go ahead.
Everything must be tried and tested though, if not then the scheme goes on hold till it is.
Give me a workable transport option and I will gladly leave my car at home, even sell it. For me that would be the Metro, the trains are hit and miss and a seat is as rare as a trophy at city
Jimmy Harkins, Moore, Warrington (09/06/2008 at 12:15)
Simon B, The North West. (09/06/2008 at 12:16)
Has launched its anti congestion charge website.
stopthecharge.co.uk/index.php
They also have a petition too
petition.stopthecharge.co.uk/