Congestion charge trial to hit city

Ian Craig, Clarissa Satchell and David Ottewell.

November 28, 2005

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JAMS: Morning hell on the M60.

JAMS: Morning hell on the M60. 1/2 Play Slideshow

DRIVERS could be forced to fork out £1 per mile as part of a congestion charging trial scheme in Greater Manchester which was announced.

Manchester will get £1.2m to draw up a plan to make motorists pay to drive along the most congested roads in the area, in a scheme which could cost some drivers up to £16,000 a year.

No timetable for the introduction of charging has been revealed, but transport bosses say the pilot will come within four years and it will be 2010 at the earliest before a full scheme is introduced.

The scheme could include charges for traffic travelling on the M60 ring road.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling announced that Manchester was among seven areas to have successfully bid for funding to start the work into congestion charging schemes.

He made the announcement at the Confederation of British Industries annual conference where its director general Sir Digby Jones slammed the "decrepit" transport system.

Mr Darling said: "We need to pilot things like road pricing and seven councils - including those in Greater Manchester - will get extra cash to start the work. I want these councils to work up plans. Before we embark on such an alternative you need to pilot it in a fairly large area.

Gridlock

"Unless you look at that you would have huge problems - absolute gridlock in 20 or 30 years' time."

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities submitted the bid for the funding, which will come from the government's Transport Innovation Fund.

They are planning to submit a bid for more money to plug the funding gap for the Metrolink expansion, later in the year.

Mr Darling said he wanted the studies to explore the technical problems involved and whether charging motorists would influence their behaviour.

He said: "I am convinced that without more radical measures, including more effective demand management and actively managing traffic flows, road congestion will get worse.

"That is why I've been very clear about the need to look at road pricing and local and regional pilot schemes are essential if we are to explore and understand the possibilities of road pricing at national level."

The schemes will not only look at London-style zoning but also consider using satellite technology to bring in pay-as-you-go charging.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive has already commissioned a survey to map out the worst congestion hotspots in Greater Manchester, which could pave the way for future charging.

Workforces

Roger Jones, chairman of the passenger transport authority, said today: "We are not talking about congestion charging in the next five years, definitely not. But unless we can offset the amount congestion is predicted to rise by people switching to public transport, then I think it is the way we are going although I think it would be from 2010 at the earliest.

"We have to look ahead and many businesses are now saying that congestion is adversely affecting their workforces. This study will give us a chance to look at how congestion charging would work here. I would like to see us including the M60 ring road if we do go ahead with this."

However, the idea has already sparked opposition from Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, which says congestion charging would unfairly target business.

The CBI says it has surveyed 1,000 firms which revealed `widespread dissatisfaction' with Britain's transport system.

Sarah Johnson, policy executive for transport at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the funding but added: "The devil will be in the detail.

"Our members recognise that congestion is becoming a growing problem.

"Our plea would be that any scheme does not just focus on commuters and business users because, while they are part of the problem, they are not the whole problem."

Do you back a Manchester congestion charge? Have your say.

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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All

Gunter, H Chapel (28/11/2005 at 11:43)

Disgrace. First of all Darling performs a U-turn on cash to help provide Manchester with a more intergrated transport system then provides B#1m to investigate ways of creating yet another tax. Such a scheme can only be introduced in a city with a fully intergrated and fairly priced transport network.

naz, city centre (28/11/2005 at 11:51)

i'll pay these charges when they stop road tax untill then they can sing for their money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kurt Stephens, Sale, Manchester (28/11/2005 at 11:52)

Very good news in my opinion, hopefully this will show Darling that Manchester is set on addressing the transport issues that we face and he will provide money from the Transport Initiative Fund that will allow us to have a first class transport system in time for the charging ton start. We cannot continue with the ever growing congestion, and in my opinion having the road users fund improved public transport - as has successfully happened in London, is the best way forward. Thumbs up from me.

Colin W, Stockholm (28/11/2005 at 11:57)

Typical botch job by Labour. If they commit to reducing petrol tax and scrapping car tax then maybe its worth considering but seeing as the public transport is currently overpriced and absymal in manchester do they actual think it will work. Im glad I live in Sweden now at least here the public transport seems to work.

PW, Manchester (28/11/2005 at 11:58)

We should all fight this. You fill up your car, paying about 72% taxation. You pay your road tax, and only a fraction of that is spent on the roads, and all that after paying tax, national insurance and Council Tax. We all know the local authorities are deliberately poking a stick in the wheel to deliberately manufacture traffic jams. That is the build-up to congestion charging. When businesses go broke, they won't be paying Business Rates. Their workers will have no jobs, and therefore will not be paying Council Tax. When will local government stop trying to sever the hand that feeds them? We should all refuse to pay, and see what they do then. I'd like to see all the Lord Mayors' extravagant cars taxed to death.

chris, stretford (28/11/2005 at 12:04)

Simplest thing to do would be too charge to entering the Manchester using cameras (like the London congestion charge scheme) and the M60 as a natural cordon. This would have to be in conjunction with better/cheaper public transport and would have the benefit of clearing out all the uninsured, untaxed scum that plague inner Manchester. Bring it on...there are too many cars on the road as it is and something has to be done.

Macca, Levenshulme (28/11/2005 at 12:06)

This won't bother me a great deal, because i work outside the town centre,
but i knew it was a matter of time before we followed London.
call me paranoid ! but has anyone else over the past year noticed a change in traffic light sequences ? i know of at least 2 busy junctions where i live that have changed for the worse, no doubt when this charge is brought in, the correct sequences will be brought back and hey presto, traffic will be flowing more freely and the charge will be justified.

Dan, city centre (28/11/2005 at 12:07)

Brilliant. They spend 5 years approving developers to build enough flats to move ten thousand of us into the city centre, then wahey! let's tax them every single time they move their car, since they live inside the zone! Lets stop being so apathetic and tell them to shove it where the sun doesn't shine!

Drew, Worsley (28/11/2005 at 12:09)

Unless and until there is a viable public transport alternative to driving into the city, then this is just another Labour stealth tax. I for one have no option but to drive in - there is no Metrolink, and the bus takes more than an hour each way to travel 6.5 miles.

Rory, Manchester (28/11/2005 at 12:11)

Any congestion charge can be justified when a fully comprehensive and intregrated public transport system is working.

Without such a continental system, it will seem like another attend by the London Treasury to tax and tax again.

barney, birchwood (28/11/2005 at 12:15)

talking of 'infrastructures' it beggars belief that the same 3 lane motorway designed to cope with a handful of cars some 30 years is expected to handle millions at present!! if they want to do something 'radical' then build at least another 3 lanes either side AND improve public transport giving commuters a viable alternative!

Dave, Manchester (28/11/2005 at 12:18)

Kurt Stephens you are obviously a tree hugger who probably lives 5 mins from work and is able to walk - for the rest of us who are forced to drive to work and between jobs this would be an outrage and should be fought at every possible chance - we already pay way over the odds for driving in this country!!

Colin W, Stockholm (28/11/2005 at 12:24)

Yes PW is correct. But unfortunately the UK population is apathetic. Whing whing whing and then do nothing. Look at the damp squib the last petrol protests turned out to be. Whether its pensioners, car drivers, IT consultants or small business owners. All they do is whing but still vote Labour back in again for another thrashing. The onlt practical solution is to up sticks and emigrate as Britain has long lost its greatness :(

jhon, manchester (28/11/2005 at 12:27)

This is a deliberate scheme to cause more problems for the future!!!!!!!!

Lynn, Salford (28/11/2005 at 12:28)

One thing - several times in this article it was mentioned that the M60 would be included in the feasibility study. The M60 was built AS A BYPASS for the city centre, to take traffic away from other congested roads! If it is included in a traffic congestion charging scheme it makes a mockery of trying to funnel traffic away from the city centre. I would dearly love to avoid having to drive, but since the public transport alternative from home to work would take me 3 changes and 2.5 hours (as against 20 minutes in the car), I'll have to keep my car. I've signed up for carsharing but nobody wants to do it. Give us better and more reliable public transport and THEN introduce congestion charging if it's necessary! On the continent, money spent on the train network is regarded as an investment, not a burden on the taxpayer. Time we did the same.

Blue, Stockport (28/11/2005 at 12:41)

Oh my God! Can't they see what will happen, it won't force people to use public transport, as sometimes its just impossible, (how does one get to Trafford Park from Stockport at five in the morning) what about hauliers and taxi drivers? They will have to put up their prices, which will be reflected on the price of products in the shop, so it will effect everyone. It will probably cause another strike among hauliers. Well if they try to put it into force I hope all the truck drivers DO go on strike, as that will definately stop it.

D Williams, Stalybridge, Cheshire (28/11/2005 at 12:42)

We will just congest the A-roads then, which the M60 was built to alleviate!!

If the charges are a B#1 per mile it would cost me around B#5000 a year. I think I'd be better off staying at home, watching Trisha, on benefits!!!

Why is it when there is a problem with the roads, the Driver is just 'fined' rather than spending B#1.2 million (For the toll plans) on plans to better the roads or Public transport?

Mick, Manchetser (28/11/2005 at 12:46)

Well! what can i say.My choices would be as follows.

1. B#40 a day charges (B#10.5k a year)<- financial wrecker
2. B#15 a day ~2 -2.5 hrs travel time on public transport(one way!)<-home wrecker
3.Leave/Move <- nrth manchester to sth Manchester B#????????? <-all of the above.

Super!

Stephen, Altrincham (28/11/2005 at 12:47)

Sadly trying to fight this won't make any difference, congestion charges have, unfortunately, been on the cards since they were introduced in London. The proposed pay-per-mile system is absolutely ridiculous, not only do we pay among the highest insurance and fuel tax in the world but we also have to pay road fund licence and are now expected to dig deeper still and cough up as if we are all driving a taxi everywhere! I do agree that there is obvious need to alleviate congestion within Manchester but why does it always come down to hitting motorists with more tax because ultimately that's exactly what a congestion charge is. If the government tried investing in public transport (i.e. Metrolink) that was accessible, reasonably priced, clean, safe and reliable then i'm sure that would go a long way to helping reduce traffic in the city.

Disappointed of, Didsbury (28/11/2005 at 12:49)

Bonkers? B#1 a mile on the M60? Surely this will just shift the congestion onto surrounding roads. Labours taxes have got motorists bent over a barrel

CS, Manchester (28/11/2005 at 12:50)

Ridiculous! We have paid, via council tax for so-called "road improvement" measures such as bus lanes, cycle lanes, road narrowing, more traffic lights and other such brainwaves. For example on Bury New Road at rush hour there are two main problems - the lights at Singleton Road/Moor Lane and the series of uncoordinated lights in Prestwich village. These have caused most of the congestion yet we are being asked to pay again to "relieve" this. London at least has a viable public transport alternative - What have we got? A tram system with seemingly only a handful of trains and an inadequate bus system. Why don't we just bulldoze the city centre and have done with it.

Ruth, Lancashire - work in Manchester (28/11/2005 at 12:57)

I have no alternative but to come to work by car as there is no public transport where I live. I pay B#7 per day for parking as it is, now they want to charge me for using the roads too? I can understand charging in the city centre (not that I approve), but charging to use the M60 is outrageous - I thought the idea of the M60 was to keep people out of the city centre thus reducing congestion? Seems the best option is for businesses to relocate outside Greater Manchester?

Ben, Middleton, Manchester (28/11/2005 at 13:02)

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT IDEA, THE SOONER ITS IN FORCE THE BETTER.

staffo, ardwick green (28/11/2005 at 13:08)

Yet another tax, where do they think we're going everyday, on our holidays? Perhaps we should all give up work for a week, pay no tax, see how they like that.

Tubby Scruff, Stuck on the motorway (28/11/2005 at 13:12)

Do you think they care ? The goverment and Manchester Council think we're all stupid anyway and they know best.

Please God, may Cameron be elected and lets rid the Country and County of these mindless, cash-wasting, jumped up nobodys.

This is yet another social experiment, very poorly thought through and destined for disaster..and who will ultimately be picking up the bill, then to add insult to injury made pay twice or more......you guessed it sucker..ME + YOU!!

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