C-charge gets the go-ahead

Chris Jones

June 12, 2008

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Sir Richard Leese, deputy chairman of AGMA and leader of Manchester City Council at Monday’s announcement in Rochdale Town Hall

MIDDLETON has vowed to stop the introduction of the congestion charge.

Politicians, businesses and local people are all rallying together to reject the government's offer of upto £3bn of improvements in public transport in return for setting up a pay-as-you-drive scheme.

It comes after Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly gave the green light to inject the money, made up of a £1.5bn cash gift and £1.2bn loan to be paid back partly through congestion charging, from the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF), on Monday.

Middleton Township chairman Peter Williams labelled the offer as 'blackmail', while local MP's Jim Dobbin and Graham Stringer said they would fight to stop the introduction of the charge.

Councillor Williams said: "The improvements in the public transport infrastructure forming part of the TIF bid are achieved at the unacceptable price of congestion charging.

"Improvements to the metrolink although not affecting Middleton are worthwhile for their own sake as are improvements to the bus network which has been appalling since privatistion, but they should not require the blackmailing stick of the congestion charge to be implemented."

The government announcement to offer Manchester the TIF cash had been widely expected.

Under the offer, up to £3bn would be lavished on public transport across Manchester, partly paid for by the introduction of a pay-as-you drive scheme in 2013.

Rochdale Council leader Alan Taylor, who performed a public u-turn on the TIF bid in 2007, welcomed the cash offer.

He said: "This is 30 years' worth of public transport investment in one go - investment like we've never seen before."

The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) said the TIF money would be used to extend the metrolink, fund additional railway carriages, expand the range and number of bus services, set up park and ride schemes and introduce a Manchester-wide travel card.

In return, a congestion charge zone around the M60 will be created, with drivers paying when they cross it at peak times between 7am and 9.30am, and 4pm and 6.30pm at night, Monday to Friday.

Drivers will also have to pay again to cross another zone around central Manchester.

Speaking at a press conference to run alongside the announcement, Sir Richard Leese, the deputy leader of AGMA, said this charge would not exceed £3 at today's prices, an amount rejected by Chris Wermann from Kellogg's, which is heading a group of companies opposed to the introduction of congestion charging.

He said: "We are surprised they have said £3, the figures we have seen suggest it will nearer £7.

"We are also surprised that the government has decided to consider increasing taxes on motorists at a time of record petrol prices and tax, as this charge could see motorists pay an additional £1,200 a year."

Three months of consultation will now be undertaken on the public's and business views to the scheme. The form this will take has not yet been made clear, but Sir Richard Leese has not ruled out a city-wide referendum on the issue.

Seven of the ten AGMA authorities need to back the governments TIF offer for it to succeed. Rochdale Council, which is dominated by the Liberal Democrats have so far supported the bid, despite protests from Middleton-based Labour councillors.

Tell us what you think. Comment online by clicking on 'Submit comment', e-mail us on middletonguardian@menwn.co.uk, or write to us at Readers Letters, Middleton Guardian, 24A Fountain Street, Middleton, M24 1AH

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A.Carter (12/06/2008 at 10:39)

The bribing and bullying that has gone on to get this bid through is an absolute disgrace.

The result will be a disaster for many hard-working Middleton residents that work just over the C-Charge border.

Don't we pay enough for our cars? Fuel duty, insurance premium tax, vat, road fund licence- the stealth C-Charge is the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Voters will not forget this. We will not be treated like fools and bottomless pits of cash for councils, regional and central government to squander.

As for Rochdale Council- this decsion demonstrate utter folly, niaviety and egotism for big projects. When we start getting stung for a fiver a day on top of everything else we will not forget the words and actions of Cllr Alan Taylor the Leader of Rochdale Council and Paul Rowen MP for Rochdale who holds a few key areas he depends on for his hold in Parliament that we will all pay dearly for soon. No wonder he took the position on the Parliamentary Light Rail Group (how many junkets are available from civil engineering and transport companies from that?).
The others to blame when we are over £1000 a year worse off will be those unelected and unaccountable but very highly paid RMBC officers such as Roger Ellis and those in the Rochdale Development Agency (the ones who moved the Co-op pharmacy offices from Middleton to Rochdale as part of a cosy and curious deal with Tesco.

If there was ever an example for a full split from Rochdale town this is it.
We have been overlooked, undermined and ignored but the cherry on top is this disgraceful rip-off that will harm Middleton residents.

All so Rochdale can get a Metrolink that no-one will use, that will travel down into the dump that is Rochdale town centre.

Everytime you look at a five pound note remember this and Mr Rowen, Cllr Taylor Mr Ellis and the RDA. Oh and for a little political balance- former Councillor Allen Brett who kept curiously quiet about Metrolink as former Leader of Rochdale town Labour party yet Bevared away on the GMPTE.

This whole deal stinks!

ReclaimAlky, Alkrington (12/06/2008 at 11:43)

Anyone with an ounce of sense or care for their community will support this. Get out of your cars, walk, ride a bike, get the bus. No-one's holding a gun to anyon'e head and asking them to pay a congestion charge, you just have to stop being a slave to the car! The streets in Middleton and Alkrington are blighted by idiot motorists who whinge about speed bumps yet drive wherever they can, stop being so bone bloody idle - replies welcome!

Peter Anthony Allonby, boarshaw (12/06/2008 at 20:48)

Who will pay for the technology needed to implemet the charge? Cameras, Gantries, computers etc cost many millions in inner London. Here we are talking about all the routes in and out of two major cities and ten towns. How much of the supposed £3 billion will be needed for these costs?

millydog, Alkrington (12/06/2008 at 23:34)

I like many other people in this manchester area are fed up to our back teeth with the government ignoring us, and them deciding what they think is o.k. Stuff you all, you liberals are up your own back passages, it amazes me how you got in in the first place, you wont be for much longer, you not only put humps in our areas without asking us you also have got on our humps, how dare you say yes to this c charge without asking the public first, as if you remember the public put you where you are but the public can also take you out. We are paying through the nose with everything, our foods gone up by 6 per cent this year alone, petrol, vehicle tax, and the rest, im fed up of lining the governments pockets, you dictate without asking you assume we'e going to take it on the chin, well forget it enough is enough, we want you out your a bunch of modern day Robin Hoods, only you don't give to the poor you line your own pockets. i say you want us to use public transport, well i wonder what you are going to on the one day when we,that is everyone use public transport, how are you going to cope with it. And what happened to our referendum on this, oh dear you know we wont all agree to it and that the bottom dollar with it, give us that referendum and we'll decide from there. Watch this space my not so friends. And the person who wrote a comment about car drivers, being lazy and try walking and using public transport, what century are you living in?

ReclaimAlky, Alkrington (13/06/2008 at 09:36)

Has everyone missed the point here? There wont be a C-Charge UNTIL all the public transport improvements have been made, therefore you will have a choice AND NOT FORGETTING if you manage to drag yourselves out of bed and travel at 6.55, YOU WONT PAY - now that doesnt seem like a bad deal to me? To millydog, I live in this century, and modern covilised societies in this century tend to ride bikes, use public transport, walk... repressed backwards looking societies sit in queues in cars gauping at the rest of the sheep in the same cars in the same queues. If we got in our cars less we might have more thriving local communities, local businesses and not our soon to be Tesco-town

Mike, Middleton (13/06/2008 at 18:07)

What does Middleton get out of this? Bus services that stop at stupid times (80, 112), massive queues on Grimshaw Lane and Greengate, and a train station that's not even in our town!

John Robinson, Bangkok (17/06/2008 at 11:05)

Just been reading this dialogue, comments etc. I used to live on Alky, now live in Bangkok (by choice for the record). I was back in the home country last month for the whole month. Congestion? You are having a laugh. There is no 'king congestion, even the 62 in the mornings aint the end of the world. Nonsense! I agree people should walk, ride bikes etc (that's healthy) but saying the traffic is busy and introducing a charge? You're having a giraffe.

Had my mother pass away last month and the hospital where she was dying have the usual pay and display charges for car parking. About 8 quid for every 24 hours if you are doing a bedside vigil. What else do you want to be charged for? You'll get it back in new services and benefits??? The cheque is in the post? Enough said.

midlaydeee, junction (19/06/2008 at 15:06)

why should people who drive have to pay for improvements to a transport system they will never use? especially when they are so heavily taxed on everything else. people who can afford the luxury of a car have worked hard for the privilege, paid a lot of money for not only the car itself, the lessons to learn to drive, tests, etc and continue to pay out for taxes,insurance, maintenance and fuel. None of this is a 'crime.' people who prefer to travel in privacy at a time they choose should be able to have that choice without interference, even more money or guilt that they are responsible for global warming just for choosing to drive! it doesnt make any sense to make drivers pay for this and is unfair to people on low wages who may be forced to quit their jobs. i dont even drive myself but see the motorist, just trying to go about their business, being persecuted every time.

AllyDlly, Middleton (26/06/2008 at 13:36)

I work at North Manchester General as a nurse, and a lot of people who work there will be hit by the congestion charge. We do not all have a choice as to what hours we work and so cannot travel out of the peak times.
A lot of the congestion from Middleton to Manchester is caused by parents taking children to school - ask anyone who drives down manchester Road during school holidays and they will tell you how much quieter the roads are.
What about plans to improve transport for school children, walking buses etc there is no mention of them in the proposals.
I cant see any advantages for Middleton under the plans - improved parking at Mills Hill station ? Shuttle bus service from Middleton centre to the train?

I welcome the referendum and will be voting against the charge and encouraging friends / family / colleagues to do the same

Abuelo chris, Dalgety Bay, Fife (30/06/2008 at 21:52)

I used to live in Middleton, but had to relocate to Fife, north of Edinburgh some years ago. In 2005 Edinburgh City Council held a referendum on the introduction of a congestion charge - and lost. Now it has government grants to implement a tram system through the city center and work started recently on the preparatory works.
The charges should NOT be introduced as part of a bribe, it is yet another form of taxation and does impact much more on the lower paid and those on a fixed income, but can adversely affects everyone.

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