C-charge on a knife-edge

David Ottewell

November 24, 2008

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BALLOT papers for the congestion charge referendum were being sent out today - as latest polling figures suggest the result is in the balance.

Campaigners on both sides are urging voters not to waste the chance to determine the future of Greater Manchester's transport system.

Canvassing of more than 5,000 people across the region found there is a slender majority - 51.4 per cent - in favour of bringing in the charge in return for more than £2.75bn of transport investment. But the research - commissioned by the Yes campaign - found the `yes' vote winning in only six of the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester.

The charge will be brought in only if people vote `yes' in at least seven boroughs.

The figures came from canvassing of 5,003 people between October 27 and November 20. Of those who expressed a definite `yes' or `no' opinion, a majority were positive about the bid in Wigan (55.8 per cent), Bolton (55.4 per cent), Stockport (55.3 per cent), Manchester (54.7 per cent), Bury (52.8 per cent) and Oldham (50.1 per cent).

In Rochdale, only 49.4 per cent said `yes', while the figures were even lower in Salford (47.8 per cent), Tameside (46.5 per cent) and Trafford (46.2 per cent). Some 26.8 per cent of people said they were still to make up their minds - meaning there is all to play for over the next three weeks.

All voting packs should arrive on doorsteps by Friday, and must be returned by 10pm on December 11. The results will be announced the next day.

With every vote critical, both sides of the debate were today calling on the electorate to take part in the referendum.

Manchester Council leader Sir Richard Leese, who backs the congestion charge scheme, said: "It is absolutely essential that everyone that is able to vote, should vote.

"But it is equally essential that people do so knowing exactly what the issues are for themselves.

"I would urge people to take their time, and read all the information contained within these packs." Graham Stringer, former Manchester council leader and now Labour MP for Blackley, who opposes the scheme, said: "It is vital that people vote - and vote No.

"They must do that to prevent Manchester having this unnecessary tax hanging around its neck for the next third of a century."

Greater Manchester's 10 councils are bidding for more than £2.75bn to be ploughed into transport schemes, including £318m to set up the peak-hour, weekday-only charge of up to £5 a day.

Some £1.2bn of the total would be in the form of a loan, paid back over 30 years out of profits from the charge.

The M.E.N. is holding a live debate on the congestion charge from 6pm on Wednesday evening. There will be full coverage on Channel M News and at manchestereveningnews.co.uk. The event is now fully booked and successful applicants will be contacted today.

Click here for ballot details

Click here to read the views of Will Hutton, cheif executive of the Work Foundation

Click here to read M.E.N. assistant editor Robert Ridley's opinion on the c-charge debate

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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Doug, Fallowfield (24/11/2008 at 07:05)

Adverts say 'I want cheaper bus fares so I am voting yes'. Can anybody tell me how much bus fares will decrease by. This could swing it for me. Somebody told me that this only applies to those on the minimum wage, which I am not. However it doesn't say this on the advert so me and other bus users I talk to all think that we are getting lower fares.

On the TIF website there is a Q&A and a question there says 'How will TIF impact on public transport fares' yet when you click on it you get sent to a page that is irrelevant.

Also how will the cycle pools work? Can I use a back every day to get from Fallowfield to Cheetham Hill?

Also how fast is the rapid transit bus from Fallowfield to Manchester and will it costs more than the normal bus?

Please answer as nobody rom GMPTE has answered my questions.

Basically the adverts say that I will save money on the bus but how much will I save?

Also I don't use my car often but will I still have to pay £80 for a tag?

Polky (24/11/2008 at 07:46)

It will only reverberate in the pockets of our children ad grand children for the next 30 years (at least) if we vote yes.

Vote NO for fairness.

Tidders, Rochdale (24/11/2008 at 07:58)

Vote NO - don't saddle yourself with huge debts for the future. VOTE NO

Hamish Macbeth, Whitefield (24/11/2008 at 08:13)

MEN - you are to be commended for an informative,balanced and fair coverage of the issue - highlighting the pro's and cons.

PW, Manchester (24/11/2008 at 08:19)

Well, let's prevent the reverberation and vote No!

Sir Pentest 2, Newton Nr. Hyde. (24/11/2008 at 08:28)

Stop the congestion charge, just vote 'NO' you know it make economical sense.

johnnyboy, Ashton-u-Lyne, Lancashire (24/11/2008 at 08:32)

VOTE NO will this tax be reclaimable as an expense by business's when spent in the pursuit of that business, if not this will increase costs and be past on to the customer eg pizza delivery across the charging lines.

Trumpetman21 (24/11/2008 at 08:34)

Vote NO - you know it makes sense!

johnnyboy, Ashton-u-Lyne, Lancashire (24/11/2008 at 08:37)

VOTE NO by the words " will reverberate" you mean " will have to pay"

DaveB, Manchester (24/11/2008 at 08:41)

Congestion charge will be nicely timed to come in alongside other massive tax rises arising from this government's waste over the last decade so it will be a double whammy.Just remember £1.2bn is a loan and maybe £600-£700m will disappear in set up costs - so far from as generous as it seems. If you're thinking of voting yes look at the cost of London Congestion Charge and yet massively rising public transport costs to boot - once this has been voted in they'll have you and you'll pay and pay and pay - just like evrything else run by the Public Sector as you can see all around you.

johnnyboy, Ashton-u-Lyne, Lancashire (24/11/2008 at 08:43)

VOTE NO think very carefully about this because if past you will have to constantly think about when to take that necessary car journey or else be charged.

Peter (24/11/2008 at 08:51)

Has MEN broken ranks with their pro-toll stance? This article is littered with reference to voting on the congestion charge, where as the pro-toll lobby has always tried to play down the tax aspect of the TIF bid and indeed the referendum question itself does not mention the "going to work" tax which is the most contentious part of the bid (along with the rather limited benefits to NW, SE and Trafford regions of G.Manchester vs the significant benefits to MCC region)

“Do you agree with the Transport Innovation Fund proposals?

Yes, I vote for the proposals.

No, I vote against the proposals.”

Donna. Harpurhey (24/11/2008 at 08:53)

Vote "NO" for the sake of generations to come. This evil tax might not affect "yes" voters now but I implore you not to saddle our children of the future with this evil tax.

feston gonzalez (24/11/2008 at 09:06)

it seems our Chancellor has decided that tax cuts are the order of the day.

so rather than burden our city with decades of debt lets follow his lead.

VOTE NO to this unfair tax

Man made Climate Change is NONSENSE, Cheadle Hulme (24/11/2008 at 09:09)

"The government would withdraw the grants available through the Transport Innovation Fund and all the associated plans to improve the future of Greater Manchester's transport infrastructure would be put on hold" Blackmail just vote no...

Peter Roberts, Telford (24/11/2008 at 09:09)

£1.2 Billion of this is a loan which will attract about £60 million a year interest.

If the CONgestion charge works and people stop driving, the loan repayment will come from council tax payers across Greater Manchester.

120 school buses, a few new trams and 18 miles of tram track.

Is this really worth the risk?

Bus fares controlled by the bus companies - so nothing in this bid will change them.

Buses controlled by the bus companies - so nothing in this bid will buy any buses.

Trams built overseas so no new jobs in the UK building them.

Not worth £2.7 Billion pounds.

VOTE NO!

Philip Cohen (24/11/2008 at 09:12)

Robert Ridley talks about congestion being caused by the 'school run'. As a great deal of families live, and go to school within the outer charge zone they would not even have to pay for travelling at peak times.

Also, if the vote is YES and the charge comes in, it will not be required for there to be another vote before the price is raised above the rate of inflation, the 'peak travel' window extended to 24/7 and the charge zone extended to the whole of Greater Manchester.

AlexisV (24/11/2008 at 09:23)

"Canvassing of more than 5,000 people across the region found there is a slender majority - 51.4 per cent - in favour of bringing in the charge in return for more than £2.75bn of transport investment. BUT THE RESEARCH, COMMISSIONED BY THE YES CAMPAIGN..."

Enough said.

umpire 2, Salford M7 4HT (24/11/2008 at 09:27)

I know it is a postal vote, but I think each council at their regional offices should have a ballot box to accept the votes.

This is because we have increased postage due to Christmas and it tends to slow down the post.

So, come on, A ballot box in all area housing offices and Town Halls to assist people to vote should be taken in to consideration as well.

Jay B, oldham (24/11/2008 at 09:34)

again this is a rather pointless news story!

the only thing that will tell us if its a knife edge or not is on Dec 12th

bring it on!

The only way to go is for manchester to vote NO!

Rammylad (24/11/2008 at 09:41)

I clearly don't mix in the 'right; circles as I know nobody who is daft enough to vote yes.

I can see central manchester people voting yes as they will not pay anything but will see the benefits as all trams / trains and buses arrive in town, but outside of that, 30 years of increased council tax for a couple of trams to suit richar leese is no reason to vote yes.

Vote no for Democracy. Dont let those who died in the two world wars, die for nothing.

Bigfoot (24/11/2008 at 09:53)

There are many problems with this proposal in that that I think voters should consider carefully:
1) There is no fixed cost to the CC charge which will without doubt escalate
2) There is no fixed cost on public transport fares which will no doubt escalate as a response to the charge
3) The people paying the charge, whom in most cases will have no reasonable alternative, will get no benefit
4) The people getting the benefit, not that I feel this investment will improve things, will pay nothing
5) The Greater Manchester economy is being put at serious risk because less and less businesses will set up within Greater Manchester and those that can will move out.
6) The congestion charge will damage the low paid the most
7) The charge will put a 30 year mortgage on Manchester
8) Rate payers will end up paying the inevitable shortfall in building and running costs
9) There are much better and cheaper alternative to the charge
10) If 15% of motorists transfer to public transport it will cripple the network, even after the limited investment on offer
11) The scheme will create long term resentment from those who are provided with no reasonable public transport alternative i.e. the “1 in 10” who will pay the charge. Especially parents of young children who cannot avoid being on a tight deadline and where public transport would never get them to work on time.

These are just a few reasons why CC is not a viable alternative.

LET THE VOTER BEWARE

Shark Sandwich, Heaton Moor (24/11/2008 at 09:53)

Much tighter that anticipated, I' have thought sense would prevail and the 'no' vote would be way out winners by now.

Maybe people can be fooled.

feston gonzalez (24/11/2008 at 10:08)

yet another fair survey from the 'yes' people.
i'm sure the question wasn't loaded in any way.

who are these people they keep questioning? or are they just calling members of their families? (bit like their advertising campaign)

here's some more fair and accurate research for you ...
90% of drinkers in my local (Lancashire Fold, Middleton) think this congestion tax is a dreadful idea which will financially cripple hard working people as they try to earn a living.

VOTE NO

Trumpetman21 (24/11/2008 at 10:08)

Vote NO - you know it makes sense!

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