GREATER Manchester’s congestion charge proposals are now on the rocks after another local authority voted against the plans.
Bury council joined Stockport and Trafford councils in a rebellion against the pay-as-you-drive proposals.
At a council meeting on Wednesday night, December 12, they voted to only support the Transport innovation Fund (TIF) bid if congestion charging is not included in the final offer from the Government.
The councillors also voted in favour of a Greater Manchester-wide consultative referendum on congestion charging.
The decision is the latest setback for the charge scheme. Only seven of Greater Manchester’s 10 authorities are now in favour of the bid to implement road pricing, in return for £3bn of public transport improvements.
The current TIF bid would collapse if one more town hall was to change its mind and join the ‘no’ camp. Under the terms of the bid by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA), there must be a two-thirds majority among the 10 councils for it to go ahead.
But despite the blow, GMPTA chairman Roger Jones remains upbeat about the future of the toll tax.
He said: “This is not the end of congestion charging. I hope the public don’t think councillors in Bury can make the final decision. We hope that no more councils pull out, but if they do, it'll have to go to a public vote.
“If there is a vote, somebody will have to make it clear what question we are asking and will have to make sure that everybody understands the details of the plans.
“The problem with a vote is that if there is a low turnout, the vote becomes meaningless.”
The GMPTA chairman, who is also an Irlam councillor, also maintained his belief in the principle of congestion charging and said that more authorities across the UK are now getting on board.
He said: “The West Midlands Chamber of Commerce has just published a report which states that congestion is costing them billions of pounds every year.
“My view is that by next year, congestion charging will be on the national political agenda.”
Under the scheme, Greater Manchester would receive £3bn to spend on public transport, but only 40 per cent would come from the government and the rest would be borrowed and repaid from the proceeds of road tolls. A final decision is expected next March.
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Most recent user comments 3 of 3
No, Mr Jones only wants Joe Public to ditch their cars while he remains comfortably tucked up in his sumptuous limousine, no doubt claiming expenses in the process for the private use of his vehicle. His feeble excuse that HE must get around to meetings etc does not wash – what are the rest of us supposed to do - we all have duties and responsibilities to attend to so what makes him more important. Vote Jones out in May – that will make a difference
14/01/2008 at 00:01 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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17/12/2007 at 18:28 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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Roger would like us all to believe him when he tells us this Toll Tax is a good thing but in reality we do not - a local or national Road Pricing scheme will NEVER be accepted by the electorate and why Jones cannot see this is beyond me.
Or perhaps he does and is trying to avoid a referendum no matter what the cost?
Thank God he retires as a councillor next year!
14/12/2007 at 09:14 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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