RHA slams Manchester congestion charge plan
Date: 04 July 2007
Plans to introduce a congestion charge on freight vehicles in Greater Manchester have been slammed by the Road Haulage Association (RHA).
The group acknowledges the good intention of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) to encourage people to think about the transport they use, but stresses that freight haulage cannot be influenced in the same way.
RHA spokesman Geoff Dunning said: "We regard this as totally unjustified and object strongly to the decision to add to the already excessive tax burden that the UK's haulage industry must bear.
"The AGMA report makes very little mention of the many significant issues that relate specifically to freight, but are not relevant to passengers, and the RHA is concerned that the decision to impose the tax on lorries is very much an afterthought in their planning."
Now the RHA will present its objections to the Department for Transport, making the point that freight traffic will not be significantly affected by the charge so the environmental benefits are not great.
It also claims that AGMA fails to recognise the contribution made by couriers and other freight forwarders to the economy of Greater Manchester.
A charge "will have a direct negative impact on freight deliveries both inside and outside the charging area", it said.
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