RUSH-hour traffic levels in Manchester city centre have fallen by nearly 10 per cent in the last two years.
Seven other town centres in the region have also experienced a drop over the same period.
Analysts say the fall has been caused by the recession. The situation in Manchester has also been affected by work to replace sewers.
Referendum
Opponents of the region's proposed congestion charge - which was rejected by voters in a referendum last year - insist the figures prove there was never a case for the scheme to be introduced.
Figures compiled by Greater Manchester Transportation Unit show 31,472 vehicles travelled into the centre of Manchester during the average weekday rush-hour in the year 2008-09, compared with 33,970 the previous year and 34,778 in 2006-07.
It means there were 3,306 fewer cars on the roads around central Manchester during rush-hour compared with two years previously.
Over the two years, rush-hour traffic has fallen just under 10 per cent in Manchester and by 4pc across all the main town centres in Greater Manchester. The sharpest fall was of 13pc in Bolton. But there was a rise in commuter traffic in Bury, Altrincham and Rochdale.
The figures were recorded using automatic traffic sensors on an average weekday between 7am and 10am.
Rejected
Voters overwhelmingly rejected plans last December to charge a peak-time congestion charge of up to £5 a day in return for £3bn-worth of investment in the region's public transport system.
Sean Corker, who campaigned for Manchester Against Road Tolls, said: "There was never a case for a congestion charge. It was always about taxing motorists."
Manchester council leader Sir Richard Leese said: "The recession won't last forever and, as the Greater Manchester economy grows over the next decade, so will road traffic, carbon emissions and congestion, damaging health, the environment and employment.
"We still have to find alternative actions before serious problems engulf us and not wait until it is too late."
A Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive spokesman said: "It's likely that traffic levels will rise again as the economy recovers."
Tweet
Rush-hour traffic falls as recession bites
October 09, 2009
Congestion levels in the city centre have fallen by nearly 10 per cent.
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Free Red, Manchester (09/10/2009 at 09:12)
Mike S, Manchester (09/10/2009 at 09:14)
And as for needing alternative measures once the economy picks up again, how about our Labour council saying to the government that we want the money for the metrolink expansion et al we were promised in full as a grant in Labour's last manifesto to materialise, rather than trying to blackmail us into accepting a going to work tax just because Manchester is a Labour stronghold and they think they can pilot ridiculous schemes here as a result?
By the way, speaking of ridiculous pilot schemes, how many people have now signed up for the ID card? It was just over 3,000 when the MEN last ran a story on it...
Mark,Radcliffe. (09/10/2009 at 09:30)
Chris R, Irlam (09/10/2009 at 09:41)
And this statement from Leese:
"We still have to find alternative actions before serious problems engulf us and not wait until it is too late."
Says to me that, in his mind at least, the Toll Tax is merely on the back-burner until political conditions become more favourable.
Only one way to be sure - get them out!
Andy., Bury (09/10/2009 at 09:50)
Rt Hon Dr Rev MC Spanner MP QC FCA FRICS JP OK (09/10/2009 at 09:51)
Greater Manchester need a Public Transport solution of the quality of London, Amsterdam, Moscow, Paris or even Newcastle, combined with suitable roads for those where Public Transport is not suitable before anybody will go near a toll tax. Otherwise it will always be seen as an extra tax on work.
Bigfoot (09/10/2009 at 10:08)
Simon Cowell's waistband, 7th heaven (09/10/2009 at 10:08)
I cannot understand how Leese and his cronies down at Grand Soviet have the face to remain in post. Didn't they all nail their colours to the mast of the silly, ill-conceived, unwanted and unnecessary congestion charge? Why are they still down in Albert Square attempting to run this once great city. Let's get a mayor in so she/he can really take a look at what's going on. The Albert Square coterie don't want the mayor - that means it's a good idea for the idiots that pay council tax.
Gerrum out. Let's have a proper grown up Toty council
Free Red, Manchester (09/10/2009 at 10:09)
Free Red, Manchester (09/10/2009 at 10:15)
9/10/2009 at 09:51
What Manchester needs is an underground. You should take a look at the one they are still building in Seoul. Cheap to use, fast and always on time. If they can do it without hammering the moterist so why can't the numpty's at MCC put a bit in for a EU grant and get it done here. Tran's are ok but they will NEVER be half as good as an underground.
Simon Cowell's waistband, 7th heaven (09/10/2009 at 10:26)
unsuitable geology, astronomic costs.
NorthernGeezer, Manchester (09/10/2009 at 10:53)
THe Lancs is as busy as ever in the morning and the Mancunian Way is just gridlocked after 3.30.
Harry, Benchill (09/10/2009 at 10:53)
If Leese is worried about it then stop encouraging people to live and work in town and spread it out a bit into the 'burbs.
It's like inviting twenty relatives to live in your two up two down and then compalining it is packed.
Leese can start by getting rid of his chauffer driven cars and they should get rid of the Town Hall Car Park (and not build the new one). Lead by examples rather than just telling everybody what the should do.
Free Red, Manchester (09/10/2009 at 11:02)
Manchester already has a network of underground tunnels built in Victorian times which are still structurally sound so where does it say it's not possible. There is even a street down there somewhere. As for cost if the majority money comes from an EU grant the cost to our end would be no more than a deposit which could be paid over say 50 years. Oh, and make it public owned so we're not lining share holders pockets.
Harry, Benchill (09/10/2009 at 11:17)
Why waste billions of our money on trams then if you still think people will use cars?
I think he will find when the recession is over that people will still use the Trafford Centre. I stopped using town because you can't park, you are two minutes over on a pay and display and you are fined, two lane roads are now one so causes more queues, traffic lights were rephased to cause congestion and as a car driver I am made to feel not wanted so I take my car and my spare cash and spend it in the Trafford Centre. I used to go out in town but now stick £30 a night behind the bar at the Happy Man.
I used to like the loony left but got fed up with being told what to do. They banned smoking so I took it up, they want you to drink less so I drink more. Next they will be telling you what time to go tobed.
What sport has increased most since the banning on fox hunting? That's right, fox hunting. Not out in the sticks but in urban areas. There are more foxes than ever and I read that in Liverpool the locals are hunting for a killing foxes at night. All out with their rottweilers.
You don't hear about that because it isn't a class war issue like the toffs hunting foxes.
Off to the Happy now to get stormed.
Simon Cowell's waistband, 7th heaven (09/10/2009 at 12:16)
Yeh, I know about the tunnels but they are isolated units, apparently the geology means that a network would be almost impossible or so limited to be of no use.
Too late for asuch a huge engineering operation to start now. All the great undergrounds have their birth in the 1800s when labour (i.e. life was cheap).
Mark,Radcliffe. (09/10/2009 at 12:53)
Mark,Radcliffe. (09/10/2009 at 12:57)
JTC Formerley JimC (09/10/2009 at 13:07)
Jan Elliott (09/10/2009 at 13:13)
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (09/10/2009 at 13:17)
Chris R, Irlam (09/10/2009 at 13:40)
Don't think I'd ever want to....there IS like outside of the city centre you know!
Chris0706 (09/10/2009 at 13:43)
davefb, bolton (09/10/2009 at 14:04)
But yeah, where have they been measuring this, because the traffic whilst lower during the summer does seem to have risen again. bolton 13% less , I find that difficult to believe, where was that measured and when ?
Joe Pub, Manchester (10/10/2009 at 00:44)
By the way, speaking of ridiculous pilot schemes, how many people have now signed up for the ID card? It was just over 3,000 when the MEN last ran a story on it...
Its being scraped to exspensive, how much as been wasted on it up till now.