Monday 21 July 2008

The congestion charge debate

At the last meeting of Wigan Council it was resolved that the Council would support a referendum conducted throughout Greater Manchester to ask people whether they supported the congestion charge or not. We would support and abide by the decision of the referendum as long as all 10 authorities in the Greater Manchester area agreed the same.

Readers of this blog should also have received the consultation brochure giving facts about the charges with an opportunity to voice an opinion for or against.

It is very difficult to put all the pros and cons of the scheme in a short article like this but I would like to highlight the following points which readers might like to comment on.

1. Manchester is essential to the economic well being of this area.
2. Greater congestion could harm the economy of Manchester
3. Through general taxation and local authority taxation systems residents in this area have subsidised and paid for investment infrastuctures in the city of Manchester without seeing much if any return
4.The congestion charge does offer a hope of investment in public transport for the Wigan area which should be implemented before the charge is introduced.

In the end people will ask themselves 'What is in it for me?' For this area I would hope to see at least:

1 The Wigan/Leigh to Manchester guided bus way
2. Major improvements to Wigan Wallgate and Wigan North Western stations including links to bus networks
3.Refurbishment of all stations in the area including Bryn
4.Construction of a new rail station at Golborne

But will that be enough to compensate for the congestion charge? Or will the people in this area see improvements without having to pay the charge if they never go into Manchester at peak times?

And finally I have a son who lives in a part of Manchester that will not benefit at all from improved public transport infrastructure. He has to travel to Liverpool frequently and consequently pay the charge nearly every day in return for little if any benefit. He will take a great deal of persauding to support the congestion charge.


I would like to hear your views about this important topic.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mr Ash,
I would like just a simple answer to the question, why does Manchester have to have this congestion charge levid at it because of government spending in Manchester when all you have to do is travel into Mersyside and look at the money that has been spent on its roads and infrastructure if greater Manchester had only half the money spent on Mersysides improvements their would be no way that a congestion charge would have had to be levid. And before all the people of Mersyside get up in arms about this just ask them to look at what St Helens has had spent on its infrastructure in the past 10 years you can tell the min you leve Gtr Manchester nad enter Mersyside by the road conditions and the bus shelters. Gtr Manchester has lamp posts.!!!!!!!1

Anonymous said...

I love the public transport in this area. Cllr Ash, see your inbox and let's have the PTE seeing some sense, for a change!

Use Public Transport they say, until we stop it running so you have to learn to drive and rely on a car?!