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Cllr Roger Jones
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Congestion charge pledge
Alan Salter3/ 7/2007
DRIVERS in Manchester will NOT have to pay three times to drive into the centre of Manchester, one of the architects of congestion charge plans has pledged.
Yesterday the M.E.N. revealed plans for three cordons that could trigger payments on the congestion charging scheme - depending on the time of travel.
But now it has emerged that motorists would only be charged for passing two cordons on any single journey and that the inner cordon would not necessarily trigger a charge.
Coun Roger Jones, chairman of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, said: "The Transport Innovation Fund bid proposals considered by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities at the end of May include a congestion charging scheme of two charging rings and £3bn of transport improvements.
"AGMA and the PTA have received a number of comments on the proposals, including a suggestion from Salford council leader John Merry. This proposal would not add to charges. There would be no third charge, but it would refine the trigger for implementing the second charge."
The M.E.N. reported yesterday that officials were examining Coun Merry's idea to introduce a third cordon around the city centre.
Coun Jones added: "We are now looking into the practicability of these proposals. All that has been proposed so far is that the outer ring would be at or near the M60, with the inner ring nearer the centre but with the route yet to be determined.
"Drivers would only be charged for crossing inbound (towards the city centre) between 7-9.30am or outbound between 4-6.30pm (away from Manchester city centre)."
"This principle of targeting congested roads at congested times is the cornerstone of the congestion charge proposals and should not be overlooked."
Coun Merry said: "My suggestion was simply that, in order to trigger the charge, people should have to cross two rings. It is not an extra charge but it would mean that people would have to travel a certain distance rather than just cross a single cordon."
In yesterday's M.E.N., the map of the possible congestion charge rings mistakenly said that drivers would pay £1 for driving out of the city during the morning rush hour and £2 to drive into the city in the evening. In fact, there will be no charge for driving in the opposite direction to rush hour traffic and motorists will drive for nothing away from the city in the morning and towards the city at night.
Coun Merry was not advocating that drivers should be charged three times on a single journey, but only that there should be three cordons that could trigger charges. Motorists who passed through all three cordons would only face two payments.
What do you think of the congestion charge? Have your say.
Most recent 2 of 30 user comments
Why are there so many potholes in the roads? They spend the money on "road improvement" schemes that actually make the problems worse. They need to get their priorities right!
From what I understand about the congestion charge, it may not apply to me, however this may change in the future. Like what Red Ken did when he extended the CCZ.
If it was just a matter of being charged to go into Salford City Centre or Manchester City Centre, then I'd simply avoid going there, but from the A57 onto the M602 is the only way I can get to work, if I end up paying more, I'll have to give my job up.
Public Transport is a joke and it's expensive, they should make it cheaper, not make driving more expensive, because this will be a license for them to charge more in fares.
What I say is; if you don't like it vote this Labour Party out, if you do like it, stop complaining about it.
Labour is stopping us working.
The Conservatives hammer the poor, but the Labour hammer the rich and poor.
12/04/2008 at 15:40
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It is US the motorists who should be charging the authorities for the congestion they caused!
12/04/2008 at 15:47