COMMUTERS also gave a mixed reaction to the congestion charge plans.
Chris Martin, 45, a builder from Swinton, said: "I live 600 yards from the M60 and if I want to go to the shop in the morning I will be charged.
"At the moment I'm working in Cheadle, which is outside the charge zone, and where I live is outside the charge zone, but I will still have to pay to get there. Trips like this, where I just skirt around Manchester, are likely to cost me £1,000 a year.
"In Swinton we have just one bus service to Manchester and no train station within walking distance. I agree with the congestion charge in principle, but unless somebody is going to come up with a fantastic service for my area I will be one of those people who suffers all the negatives of the scheme and none of the positives.
"Even if public transport is going to be improved, I can't carry a cement mixer and tools on the bus."
Steve Burne, a 37-year-old company boss from Altrincham, said: "I have no problem changing journey times, or taking the tram instead of the car, which I don't do at the moment because the system is not reliable.
"We may have to adapt our working patterns, but a lot of staff use public transport and they will benefit from improvements."
Rick Amaoko, a 31-year-old computer support worker from Levenshulme, said: "I travel to work at Salford Quays and would pick up a charge on my usual route. It's likely that I will change and go through Hulme - along with about 2,000 other drivers!
"It would take massive improvements for me to abandon my car. Getting a bus to town is fine, but getting a rush hour tram to Salford is a nightmare."
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Mixed reaction to c-charge
June 10, 2008
Showing comments 1 to 9 and replies | View All
stacy (10/06/2008 at 13:24)
I B Happy, Seven Dwarfs Mansion (10/06/2008 at 14:01)
"Mixed reaction to c-charge"
May I suggest that the writer goes to the BBC's Manchster Website. They are conducting a poll - when I was there last, 1500 people had voted - 85% to 15% Mixed reaction? - but overwhelming. On a general vote on the main BBc website "whether road price would work in "your" city" it is 69% to 31% - The PEOPLE do not want it!!!!!
Chris, Irlam (10/06/2008 at 14:54)
May I suggest that the writer goes to the BBC's Manchster Website. They are conducting a poll - when I was there last, 1500 people had voted - 85% to 15% Mixed reaction? - but overwhelming. On a general vote on the main BBc website "whether road price would work in "your" city" it is 69% to 31% - The PEOPLE do not want it!!!!!"
Once you have used this site for a while the endemic bias towards the Toll Tax becomes evident, they like to make out we are 'split' on the Toll Tax but if there is a split is is closer to 80:20 against than the near-even 50:50 the MEN like to portray.
only nickname left (10/06/2008 at 15:19)
Yes they vary from agaist the charge to absolutely against the charge.
PW, Manchester (10/06/2008 at 15:27)
Do you want the congestion charge? Tick one of the following boxes:
1) Yes
2) Yes, definitely
bluetony (10/06/2008 at 15:28)
The congestion question: Your choice was: Disagree
1: Agree 15%
2: Disagree 85%
Total so far: 1510
Seems the poll is getting even worse for Leese and co. But he's not listening anyway so what does he care?
jomov, Manchester (10/06/2008 at 15:34)
May I suggest they scrap this stupid idea altogether?
I B Happy, Seven Dwarfs Mansion (10/06/2008 at 18:18)
"A YouGov survey of 1250 chief executives, directors and managers suggested that four out of five businesses opposed the plan"
(from todays (10-6-2008)Independant)
Jay B, oldham (11/06/2008 at 17:18)