GREATER Manchester WILL have a vote on congestion charging.
Leaders of the 10 local councils have agreed that a referendum should take place on the controversial proposal.
But the results will be broken down on a borough by borough basis and only if people in seven out of the 10 Greater Manchester authorities vote yes will congestion charges be imposed. Any less and the scheme will collapse.
The government is offering Greater Manchester up to £3bn for public transport improvements in return for the peak hour-only charge of up to £10.
A 14-week consultation on the proposal is due to end on October 10. A referendum will take place in December, probably via postal voting and polling stations.
All or nothing
Lord Peter Smith, leader of AGMA, Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, said: “At the last meeting we asked for an agreement towards a referendum and today’s news is an important step forward for the people of Greater Manchester who now have an opportunity to vote on one of the most important decisions this city region has seen for decades.
"People will have their say on whether thay want to say yes to transform public transport systems in Greater Manchester including a congestion charge to ensure the region can continue to prosper.
“It’s all or nothing.”
A small group of AGMA leaders with officer support will develop the referendum and indtend to sort out the details by the end of September.
Before today’s meeting Trafford, Bury and Stockport councils had already said they were opposed to the government deal.
Manchester, Salford, Tameside, Wigan, Rochdale and Oldham support the plan and Bolton had pledged to hold a local referendum.
At today’s meeting Sir Howard Bernstein, chief executive of Manchester council, said independent scrutiny of the referendum would be crucial.
The Electoral Reform Society will be commissioned to assist with the wording of a question put on ballot papers.
Sir Richard Leese had proposed a single county-wide ballot four weeks ago on condition that all 10 local authorities were bound by the result.
He said: “Since then some local authorities have been told by their lawyers we can’t do that. This proposal gives us a way forward.”
Click here to see an interactive map of the congestion charge zones
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
andymufc, Manchester (25/07/2008 at 12:12)
Chris, Irlam (25/07/2008 at 12:15)
Bring it on!
Kiwi-blue, Christchurch NZ (25/07/2008 at 12:16)
Sid (25/07/2008 at 12:26)
Caped Crusader, Gotham City (25/07/2008 at 12:27)
Munkey Boy (25/07/2008 at 12:28)
jomov, Manchester (25/07/2008 at 12:28)
Big Ernst (Manchester, Where Else??) (25/07/2008 at 12:37)
Deb (25/07/2008 at 12:52)
I only hope that we now receive information from both sides of the fence(for and against) instead of the glossies we've had so far which heavily promote the scheme. Talk about propaganda!! I wonder whether MCC have learnt all their tactics from Lord Haw Haw.
The Government offering a loan to the people of Manchester. Where does this money come from??? It's OUR money that they are lending us! For private companies to have their fleets enhanced and WE have to pay for them and they boost their profits.
How about another proposal? That Metrolink, Finglands, Magic Bus, etc. apply for the loan and pay it off out of their increased earnings??
I wouldn't and couldn't consider taking out a loan for ANY reason - I simply couldn't afford to pay it back so why should MCC take one out on my behalf with the commitment that goes with it to paying it off forever (or until we move out of Manchester?) They will have to repay it somehow and if the scheme is successful and more people travel by public transport - who's going to pay the loan back then??? Something tells me that it'll be a surcharge of the Council Tax.
Why should MCC take OUR money, give to privately owned transport organisations and then expect us to pay it back???
Councillor Allheart, in a black cab (25/07/2008 at 12:55)
Jay B, oldham (25/07/2008 at 12:57)
show the government what you think of their stupid ideas and tell them we wont be blackmailed!
andymufc, Manchester (25/07/2008 at 13:11)
You didn't the story about Rochdale. Labour voted against this last week. Lib Dems voted for it.
rammylad, ramsbottom (25/07/2008 at 13:14)
"People will have their say on whether thay want to say yes to transform public transport systems in Greater Manchester including a congestion charge to ensure the region can continue to prosper".
I wonder if he is testing the c-tax referendum question in stating this quite precise text. Well if he is he needs to go back to his word processor and start again. There is no evidence that a c-tax is needed to ensure the economy grows and to suggest so is scaremongoring, missleading and actually a simple lie. Show us the evidence Mr Smith, ohh that would be evidence of predicting the future, ohhh, so you can not do that, so do not word our c-tax referendum like that.
How about: -
"Do you want to give tax payers money to private companies so they can by a few buses and trams so you may get or may not get any improvement in your area and in return allow us MCC / GMPTA take out the biggest loan in the history of local concils to set up a stealth tax where the money we collect will go towards paying off the huge loan we took out and the rest goes to central government for London based projects because we all know that any projects in London benefit the whole country"..... Yes or No.
Pob Warby (25/07/2008 at 13:17)
I know what I'll be voting for, but hey, that's my choice and I find no reason to mouth off about it.
Moan or preach as much as you like, but it's the cross in the box that will matter.
Use it wisely.
AdrianR, Warrington (25/07/2008 at 13:18)
Who is to say the extra carriages will be on the peak services? Who is to say that the TOC's will give the extra money from the extra passengers back? Why should people outside of GM benefit if they dont pay for it?
Doesnt add up at all.
ethan retrick (25/07/2008 at 13:25)
Hadn't we also, already got funding for an expansion of the Metrolink, only for Labour to revoke the funding at the last minute???
North - South divide!!!
Introduct congestion charging, only when we've got a 21st century integrated transport system and pay for it from central Government, like everything in the south-east is.
Road Safety Officer, Manchester (25/07/2008 at 13:26)
AlexisV (25/07/2008 at 13:28)
I can't see this getting through now that we all have our say. Surely at least 60% will vote against.
I'm still confused why Kiwi is here though. I don't spend all my time on The NZ Herald's site.
joe stalin, Gorton (25/07/2008 at 13:33)
Dukinfield Blue, Manchester (25/07/2008 at 13:33)
Come on people of Manchester, vote in huge numbers against this and send those skanky politicians scurrying for cover. I bet when he loses lease will say it was never his idea anyway.
Dave (25/07/2008 at 13:33)
The MEN are distorting the issue if they continue to bill this as just about congestion charging.
shayla (25/07/2008 at 13:40)
Hopefully, they make sure they say so on voting day.
As Richard Leese said, the council's lawyers have told them he can't legally force a congestion charge zone on them, but I bet he already knew that and has just been trying it on, bullying, persuading and now, the truth is out.
VOTE WISELY PEOPLE, VOTE FOR THIS CHARGE AND YOU WILL REGRET IT FOR THE REST OF YOUR TAXABLE LIVES!
It will open the floodgates to computer issued speeding tickets everytime you exceed the limit and they'll know where you are all the time.
NO..... THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO STOP THIS THING ONCE AND FOR ALL!
Batfink, Manchester (25/07/2008 at 13:41)
Phil Oldham (25/07/2008 at 13:57)
I ask of Manchester's motorists to not be greedy and think of others when ticking the "No" box.....think about your elderly relatives who would be given more freedom with safer and more frequent services, and think of your children who have to use the transport to get to school.
As it stands, only 1 in 5 will pay the charge anyway, and to those who are complaining about it, why not change your working hours? Start and finish earlier.....or give public transport a chance!! The vast majority of city centre workers manage to use it with very few problems...why can't you??
Britain is gripped in a transport snobbery attitude and until people face facts things will get worse. It makes me laugh to hear of people paying over £10 a day to drive into Manchester (including parking, fuel, tax, insurance...) when I can be there in literally half the time for no more than £2 on the train...without the worry of parking etc.
Chris, Irlam (25/07/2008 at 14:01)
I know what I'll be voting for, but hey, that's my choice and I find no reason to mouth off about it.
Moan or preach as much as you like, but it's the cross in the box that will matter.
Use it wisely.
Pob Warby"
We will sunshine, we will - don't worry your little mind about that.