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Location: Discussion Forum
Discussion: Congestion charging / public transport improvements
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Emily@AgnesSt Emily@AgnesSt |
Congestion charging / public transport improvements
Jul 15 2008, 4:11 PM EDT Like me, I'm sure a number of you have recently received a pack from the Council asking for views about the proposed congestion charging. I would be interested to hear people's views on this - here are some extracts from the response I have sent to GMPTE: Safeguards for prices Having read all of the information you have publicly available, I can see no guarantee that the prices for congestion will remain the same for any length of time. I understand that this would be a difficult commitment to make, but I'm afraid I cannot support any scheme where I cannot know that a fair price for the charge will be guaranteed. One of the main selling points for these plans is that the "[the] average daily charge is estimated to be less than £3" (taken from the gm future transport website), yet there is nothing to say how long this will last for. There is nothing to say that this will remain only at peak times and won't be introduced for Bank Holidays once it has already been introduced. The London congestion charge was introduced at a low price and was quickly hiked up once people had learnt to live with it. Now it is at the whim of politicians who use it to buy votes with different pressure groups. This is a bleak state of affairs and not one I would want to see in Manchester. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Emily@AgnesSt Emily@AgnesSt |
RE: Congestion charging / public transport improvements
Jul 15 2008, 4:11 PM EDT Proposed improvements As a resident of Levenshulme (a so-called regeneration area) I am disappointed that the vast bulk of transport extensions appear to favour affluent areas of Manchester (Chorlton, Didsbury etc). I am to be taxed to drive to my own home (which may or may not be within both rings), whilst the public transport available is frankly slow, infrequent, unreliable, overcrowded and generally an unpleasant experience. We are told that the improvement of our area is a focal point for local government, but in actuality this proposal is prejudiced against us and will negatively impact an area which already has a number of significant socio-economic difficulties. On this basis alone I am vastly disappointed with the proposals and unwilling to provide my support. 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Emily@AgnesSt Emily@AgnesSt |
RE: Congestion charging / public transport improvements
Jul 15 2008, 4:12 PM EDT Ring locations The location of the new rings presents unfair impact on local residents. This legislation will, in effect, represent a stealth tax on those who simply require a car for work purposes. This impact should be minimised by enabling every driver to have a number of "free crossings" per month - thus dissuading regular commuting by car where possible but not unfairly penalising local residents (perhaps if the Council actually properly invested in my area as promised I would be able to afford to sell my house and move!). 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Emily@AgnesSt Emily@AgnesSt |
RE: Congestion charging / public transport improvements
Jul 15 2008, 4:12 PM EDT Exemption / charge reduction for low income workers I fail entirely to see the logic as to why this amendment is required. Surely low income workers are entirely the group who cannot afford the cost of running a car / commuting to work in this manner? This seems like a politically correct ploy that the authorities are well aware will not actually materially impact their revenue streams. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Anonymous |
RE: Congestion charging / public transport improvements
Jul 16 2008, 6:12 AM EDT Hi We haven't'got this on my street: we never do get anything (must be the dead zone for Council stuff). What galls me is there is a push to expand the airport yet introduce congestion charges...so is it about the environment?? Hmm. I travel by train further afield. I stand up on lots of journeys and it is not cheap. And yes low-pay means no car. And where will the charge money go? To who and for what? Does it say? Thnaks Do you find this valuable? |
