‘Yes’ to C-charge but by tiny majority

by Brian Lashley

August 27, 2008

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PEOPLE in Tameside are split right down the middle over the congestion charge, a survey has revealed.

A total of 51 per cent are in favour of the controversial scheme, with 44 per cent against.

The figures form part of a survey of more than 5,000 people in Greater Manchester.

Overall, 53 per cent support plans to introduce a charge of up to £5 per day to enter Manchester city centre to help fund massive investment in public transport. The charge will only be brought if it wins support in at least seven boroughs in a December referendum.

In return for a ‘yes’ vote, the government will hand over £1.5bn to revolutionise trams, trains and buses — and allow the area to borrow £1.2bn more against three decades of profits from the charge.

The MORI poll shows backing for the deal is strongest in Wigan, with 58 per cent in favour and 36 per cent against. There are also clear majorities in favour in Manchester (56-38), Rochdale (57-39), Trafford (55-38) and Stockport (52-41).

Support is weakest in Tory-run Bury, where 49 per cent say ‘yes’ compared to 46 per cent saying ‘no’. The majorities are also slimmer in Salford (50-44), Oldham (51-41) and Bolton (51-40).

Trafford and Stockport’s Lib Dem chiefs have declared strong opposition to the deal, claiming they are reflecting local attitudes. Bury Council also wants a ‘no' vote.

The charge will not be introduced before summer 2013, when ‘at least 80 per cent of the proposed new public transport’ is up and running, say transport chiefs.

Opponents will take heart from the fact that support was ‘softer’ than opposition. Only 21 per cent said they definitely' accept it with 32 per cent saying ‘probably’.

That compares to 27 per cent saying they would reject the deal.

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telfire, Denton (27/08/2008 at 21:38)

I am willing to bet that the figure for the whole of Tameside would be an overwhelming NO. The survey only gives a figure for those who responded and not representitive of the Borough as a whole. IMHO the residents of Denton would reject the congestion charge nearer to a true figure of 100% as we live net to the M60 have to cross the Moterway in just about all directions of travel

Dennis the Menace, Hyde (28/08/2008 at 01:15)

DO NOT MAKE ME LAUGH !!!!!!

WHO WAS INTERVIEWED ???

WERE THEY OF SOUND MIND ????

THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT I SPEAK TO ARE TOTALLY AGAINST THIS !!!!!!

Pentest 2, Hyde (28/08/2008 at 18:20)

I agree totally with you Denis the Menace, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating.
It looks like the poll consisted of 51 NuLab councillors for, and 48 Tory councillors against.
The poll certainly wasn't taken from from public ...but what did we excpect. Nudge, Wink.

Snare Drum 54, Ashton-u-Lyne (28/08/2008 at 19:03)

What a load of old tosh. I refuse to believe that the electorate of Tameside to be so gullible as to believe the lies and deception put forward by the council. I have spoken to many people out on the streets and have had a totally different response than that of the council, so just who have they asked? Also who could trust a council that did nothing to stop the closures of the General Post Office, the Hippadrome Theatre and as we speak, the Broadoak Sub Post Office. They are a part of the government which has brought all this about and we also hear that national road pricing is also back on the books, glad I'm not long for this world, coz it plain stinks.

tbag, usa (29/08/2008 at 02:07)

C charge isnt working in London. Look at the figures it has increased congestion. These birks running the council are looking for a cash trough so they can fund thier expenses. For gods sake there is no such thing as a carbon foot print. Show me one. ! Look at the figures from the main universities in the USA.. ALabama I believe... they show global cooling not a massive rise. Its a Con as is green tax on recyling.. cost you more doent it... But wait a minute... what hapens to the plastics paper etc ... ohhh yes the council sell it and what happens to the money... well it sure doesnt go back to the tax payers.... Funny isnt.. You pay extrea for it to be removed.. then they make more by selling it.. ermmm
well... you all mya jump o me but I do have degrees in geography social and physical And Biology. so... Remember stats can say any thing you want them to say..

Robb (MART - www.tamesidemart.co.uk), Denton (29/08/2008 at 09:34)

Polls and surveys like this only ask a small proportion of the people. Probably phoned during the day when most people who would pay the con charge were at work.

When MART was using the mayoral referendum petition to put pressure on the council to give us a con charge referendum we had a massive response against the charge. For every one person that agreed with the con, there was at least 50 who were willing to sign the petition.

Only the referendum in December will tell...

Paul Highton (09/11/2008 at 23:17)

Going for the prize

Tameside have been working hard to try to convince people this tax is needed. They have changed traffic signals, narrowed roads, made more one way streets and put in extra traffic signals all to create extra congestion.

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