Congestion charging set to go ahead in Manchester
The government look set to push congestion charging onto Manchester despite the opposition of two of the areas key Councils; Lib Dem-run Stockport, Conservative-run Trafford who withdrew their support for the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) bid last year.
The Transport Innovation Fund provides funds to improve public transport if traffic management measures such as congestion charging, are introduced.
Under the scheme, drivers would be required to pay up to £5 to enter the city centre at busy times. Manchester would be the first city to follow in London’s lead and introduce congestion-related charging. Charging could be brought in by 2013 and would include millions of pounds of Government support for public transport, to improve and extend train, bus and tram services.
The scheme would create two charging “rings”, there would be separate charges for crossing the outer ring, around the M60 motorway and the inner ring around the relief road in Manchester city centre.
It could cost £2 to cross the outer ring, plus an extra £1 to cross the inner ring in the morning and drivers would be charged again to head back out of the city in the evening. Charging would be incurred for travel between 7am and 9.30am and between 4pm and 6.30pm.
The proposed £3bn of public transport improvements are expected to provide limited benefit to councils such as Stockport, which is not included in the current extension to Manchester’s tram system. Metrolink’s tram expansion should be complete by the time the charge comes into place and will extend Manchester airport, Trafford Centre, Oldham and Rochdale town centres.
Much larger than the London Scheme the outer ring of the charge rate covers about 100-square miles compared with around ten miles for London. It would be about 12 times bigger than London’s original congestion charge area.
The Manchester bikers who protested last week over the rising cost of fuel will find that despite their efforts, things just got a little bleaker for their wallets.
Transport Minister Rosie Winterton may give the scheme the go-ahead this afternoon after refusing to allow local councils to hold referendums. Labour MP’s have voiced concerns that it could undermine the party’s support in the area.
Graham Stringer, MP for Manchester Blackley, told the Manchester Evening News, the charge was `politically and economically’ a bad idea.
Faye Sunderland
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