The Dept for Transport has said that their decision on the 3 regional proposed c-charge experiments (Manchester, Bristol and Cambridge) will be deferred till after the local elections.
They clearly believe that any news on this before the election will have a direct impact on the chances of labour candidates for Council positions.
If you live in any of these regions I suggest you ask your council candidates what their position is on road charging and also ask them if they have grasped that the draft Transport Bill will take control of local roads away from local authorities and give it to unelected regional transport authorities.
In separate news the Salford Advertiser has learned that the Manchester c-charge is more likely to be £7.50 a day than the £5 that the councils say it will be. They have asked for this to be confirmed under the Freedom of Information Act but have been refused because the Councils say that "it is not in the public interest" to reveal whether this is true or not. Well, whose interest is it in to keep it secret?
Edited by Pugugly on 21/03/2008 at 15:38
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Did the samw in Basingstoke, unelected Hampshire lot who couldn't give a monkeys putting traffic calming in for fun. We are like mushrooms down here fed whatsit and kept in rthe dark.
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I see the Manchester scheme is firmly back on the agenda, charging to enter the area inside the whole of the M60 seems completely OTT to me.
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Would LPG vehicles be exempt (as with London) in these new areas should the charges go through?
What other vehicles are congestion charge exempt too?
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It seems to me that the benefit of the increase in public transport spending will mostly go to those who live inside the Manchester congestion zone, but will be paid for by those who live outside it.
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To be acceptable, taxes must be transparent, fair and reasonable.
On the above information, the proposed taxes fail on all 3 .
But what do we expect?
Only answer is the ballot box...
Edited by madf on 09/06/2008 at 11:18
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>>I see the Manchester scheme is firmly back on the agenda, charging to enter the area inside the whole of the M60
I'm sure I heard they'd be charging to leave the area as well. Make of that what you will. ;>)
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I live in the city of Dresden in 1989 we had what the Russians left not much now it has a wonderful tram,bus and road network with underpasses ,tunnels.If I go into the city I never use my car as the S bahn is so good warm clean punctual and runs 24 hours a day seven days a week every week and guess what we have no toll charges.
The money the government is offering to manchester as a bribe would build approx 12km of tram line.
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The fact they are deferring until after the elections says it all.
I have just spent two weeks in Germany with work, and although it's not perfect, it just smacks you in the face how clean, modern and efficient their whole transport infrastructure is compared with ours. Public transport provides cheap, reliable, clean and modern trains and trams which turn up on time, and whisk you from A to B pretty much as quickly as you could drive it. The roads are well surfaced (although the traffic in the Duesseldorf / Moenchengladbach area is as bad as anything here), and I didn't see a single Gatso or speed hump for two glorious weeks.
Coming back here in that respect was simply depressing. Everything is so grubby, old and tired in comparison.
Cheers
DP
Edited by DP on 09/06/2008 at 12:17
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>>I didn't see a single Gatso for two glorious weeks.
You don't because they hide them really well and they use a lot ( a damned site more) mobile & hand held units.
On the spot fines feature heavily in their policing regime...
... to the point that if you do not have the cash to pay, they will take you to get it!
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Heard a radio presenter saying that the government would in all probability give Manchester a large sum to improve public transport. The congestion charge would be used to raise yet more to improve it further. Well WE give the government the money in the first place and who do they think will pay this congestion charge? It's yet another example of sueeze the sitting duck motorist. We have built a society in which the car plays a huge part and we are being penalised for it.
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Just another reason to avoid entering Manchester. Wonder how many businesses will re-locate or close if this tax is imposed?
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Classic and personal example. My wee business has now got to a stage where it has outgrown being operated from my home. I will have to give serious thought to opening a "proper" office this year. The most obvious location would have been central Manchester. A number of factors will dissuade me from that choice now. Firstly, the fuel cost of my commute and secondly the possible congestion charge which would be applicable to me and my customers. My business needs to be accessible from the road and rail infrastructure and most of my customers travel from fair distances. There would be no disadvantage in locating the office outside the proposed charge zone other than the less traditional address. I shall now be looking at locations on business parks outside the "zone" proposals.
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If it's anything like the London experience, conditions in the middle of town will improve somewhat for those willing to pay the price, or those obliged to. (It is to be hoped though that the new mayor will now dismantle all the chicanes, bumps, skipping ropes and so on that were strewn about London to make driving more of a misery before the congestion zone was invented, and that are still appearing).
The system is unjust to small traders who trade inside but live outside the zone. I think that with proper proofs they should be treated as residents.
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