TRANSPORT minister Lord Adonis has quashed any lingering hopes that Greater Manchester could still get a share of the government's Transport Innovation Fund - TIF.
Money for public transport improvements will have to be found elsewhere after a county-wide referendum voted overwhelmingly against the idea of congestion charging - which the government was demanding in return for a £3bn transport package.
Some officials hoped the government might 'reward' the area and help justify the massive £24m cost of planning and preparing the failed bid for TIF cash.
But Lord Adonis said: "A lot of that planning may be of use in the future but it was always clear that the proposals were contingent on congestion charging.
"It wasn't a threat - it was simply the agreement which was reached. The people have spoken and, in a democracy, there is nothing more powerful than a referendum result.
"This wasn't a game which offered rewards for effort. This was an agreement about a whole package."
Congestion charge: From conception to referendum
He raised some hope that a 'plan B' may bring in some cash, however, when he said: "That doesn't mean to say that some individual components may not go ahead with funds from another source - but they are not going to be part of the existing Transport Innovation Fund."
He was surprised by the resounding No referendum result. He said: "All my political colleagues were telling me it would be much closer. No one thought it would be so decisive. But if a decision was going to be taken against the idea, it is better that it was so clear.
"Congestion charging will now not be coming forward again."
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson left local leaders puzzled about the fate of the Transport Innovation Fund after an earlier visit to the area to talk to business and political leaders.
Trafford Council leader Susan Williams said: "Lord Mandelson's suggestions about what projects might now qualify were a total departure from the remit we were working to."
Congestion charge: From conception to referendum
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No hope of a C-charge 'reward'
February 02, 2009
Lord Adonis
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
(wetsocks), Manchester (02/02/2009 at 07:01)
dessie, manchester (02/02/2009 at 07:59)
gladys rowbotham, Manchester (02/02/2009 at 08:09)
Please, no "put up the price of public transport" or "take the buses back into public sector control" solutions.
Chris R, Irlam (02/02/2009 at 08:24)
Well then - try speaking & listening to the Average Joe rather than your fellow ivory-tower dwellers and you MAY get more of an idea of the public's true feeling.
Further proof that 99% of politicians are out-of-touch with the common man.
Time for a change!
DaveB, Manchester (02/02/2009 at 09:02)
Sir Elliott Pest , Newton Nr. Hyde. (02/02/2009 at 09:09)
It can't come soon enough.
Technobabble, Manchester (02/02/2009 at 09:14)
But of course. This is a bunch of Labourites talking amongst themselves, and clearly they have no clue as to what ordinary people think.
johnnyboy, Ashton-u-Lyne, Lancashire (02/02/2009 at 09:26)
bobby, City Centre (02/02/2009 at 09:44)
Mike S, Manchester (02/02/2009 at 10:14)
Munkey Boy, Audenshaw (02/02/2009 at 10:26)
Do you know the #1 complaint amongst people that use public transport? The fares are too high. And you want to put them up. Genius.
Dave Sherwood, Irlam (02/02/2009 at 10:31)
fed up with it, sale (02/02/2009 at 10:57)
Jay B, oldham (02/02/2009 at 11:10)
they said no plan b! and they've kept their promise.
bring on the general election!
they'll all be out of a job soon!
Redtooth, Manchester (02/02/2009 at 11:26)
Jay B, oldham (02/02/2009 at 11:31)
they never gave us it.
then they said the same the second time round.
they failed us again.
the only thing left is to kick them out of government now.
failure after failure!
if that was an employee or a business they'd be sacked or gone bust!
bring on the general election!
its time for a change!
Frostee, Oldham (02/02/2009 at 11:34)
Mark,Radcliffe. (02/02/2009 at 11:36)
Chuckster, Cheshire (02/02/2009 at 11:50)
Congestion is 99% caused by rubbish traffic management schemes and Bus Lanes....abolish bus lanes as a starting point, they don't work
nyb, ex manc (02/02/2009 at 12:00)
Please, no "put up the price of public transport" or "take the buses back into public sector control" solutions.
Why not?!!
Paul, Whalley Range (02/02/2009 at 12:47)
Labour are continuing to invest in areas like London because this is where the next election will be fought - why else would they continue to shelve projects in the north in order to fund projects in the south. Remember the metrolink expansion was shelved to fund Crossrail.
Munkey Boy, Audenshaw (02/02/2009 at 12:53)
Absolute nonosense. Back up your claims with evidence for a start. Road vehicle kms are increasing every year, that is the sole reason for more congestion. If you think removing bus lanes will have any kind of major impact, you're sadly mistaken.
dessie, manchester (02/02/2009 at 13:10)
essie: "a good idea would to be to put up fares, for buses, trams and trains, that way the people that use them will have a better service!!!"
Do you know the #1 complaint amongst people that use public transport? The fares are too high. And you want to put them up. Genius.
i use my car, i pay for car tax, insurance and a fuel tax, why should we fund buses trains and trams thats why it got voted out good and proper??? when someone uses public transport they pay to use it!!!!!!!
beswick red (02/02/2009 at 13:24)
NWmancCUB (02/02/2009 at 13:27)
People no longer have any backbone in this country and seem to be afraid of change despite Labour single handedly ruining this country over the past 10 years....