Last week the 10 different districts of Manchester got together to vote for or against the Manchester Congestion charge. 8 out of the 10 councils voted for it (Trafford and Stockport were against it). Unfortunately that means it looks like there will be a Manchester congestion charge. Once again tax against motorist!! (Will it also mean movement tracked???)
It is not completely 100% decided and depends on whether the public transport network is sorted. The congestion proposed to be weekdays in the morning heading into Manchester and in evening rush hour heading out of Manchester. This does mean that its unlikely to effect me. However in 2012 when this is supposed to happen I may not be living in the City Centre. It could mean £5 each time to go in the city centre. (Also thats £5 at todays prices, it will be higher in 2012). They are supposed to help promote Manchester business and tourism but surely this will effect it negatively!!!
On a recent online petition about 1.8 million people signed to protest against it. In Stockport the vast majority of business didnt want it. However they still went ahead with it – so much for democracy!!
They have also said they will only do it if get the public and business backing – well the public opinion they have got is just a phone poll of about 5000 people. However if you check out sites like the MEN site (and many others) the opinion of the vast majority is against it. There was one poll of more than 1,200 companies, commissioned by Peel Holdings, which showed 80 per cent would vote against the proposal if given the chance in a referendum. Thats certainly not backing!! Further findings – revealed in the M.E.N. last week – showed 38 per cent of businesses would consider moving out of the proposed charging zone if road pricing went ahead. 78 per cent said they thought it would harm business compared with the rest of the country. Thats worrying!!! In another poll in Stockport the percentage of people against it was 87% and 60(ish)% of businesses.
The hours the congestion charge will be in effect are:
M60 Outer Ring: £2 to enter 7-9.30am and £1 to leave 4-6.30pm on weekdays
Intermediate ring: £1 to enter 7-9.30am and £1 to leave 4-6.30pm on weekdays
Location of intermediate ring to be determined
No charge 9.30am-4pm weekdays, or at weekends
The scheme will be introduced as part of a package including 200 extra buses, the completion of Manchester’s tram system and extra carriages for trains in the region. The measures will be part-funded by a £1.2 billion grant from central government but otherwise subsidised by the motorists’ tolls.
One interesting point that some environmental people are bringing up is it will reduce pollution etc. The modern car creates a lot less pollution than a crappy double decker bus.
One thing that does make me smile is that one of the main council guys who turned up to the meeting they had last week didnt turn up on public transport but a private taxi!
Here is a link to an excellent article with many more points and views that me – http://www.aidan.co.uk/article_congestion_charging_manchester_gmpte.htm
One of the main things I have against the congestion charge is that we dont have an ESTABLISHED public transport network. The reason it ‘works’ in London is that they have things like the Tube which has been around for YEARS and YEARS. On a personal note it is likely to effect property prices – it could lower it as less people want to live and come to Manchester for business and tourism. However it may make it go up as people will want to live and work in city centre ????
Related articles:
BBC News – http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6918378.stm
BBC News (Manchester) – http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2007/01/24/240106_road_pricing_feature.shtml
BBC News – http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6913707.stm
Manchester Evening News – http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/c/1009844_ccharge_a_wall_around_the_city_.html
WikiPedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Congestion_Charge
http://www.manchestertolltax.com/
