Manchester gives congestion charging the go-ahead
Date: 30 July 2007
Council leaders in Manchester have voted in favour of introducing congestion charging, subject to central government approval for new public transport.
Just two out of the ten local authorities that make up the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) rejected the plans, which rest on clearance being granted for a £3 billion public transport upgrade.
If the government's Transport Innovation Fund clears the plans then it looks likely a daily £5 charge would be levied on commuters and road haulage drivers passing through the city centre at peak times.
A range of studies have suggested businesses are marginally opposing the plans with the public marginally in favour, although the councils have stressed all improvements would have to be completed first and the scheme could not operate before 2012.
"We are all agreed that investment must come first, before any congestion charging, which in any event would only apply in the working week at peak periods," Sir Richard Leese, deputy leader of AGMA, told localgov.
However, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) has dismissed the plans as "totally unjustified" and argued that any charge should not apply to freight companies.
RHA northern regional director Geoff Dunning said the plans "add to the already excessive tax burden that the UK's haulage industry must bear".
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