Campaigners against plans for the controversial Congestion Charge Road Tax are to raise a petition calling for a new mayor for Tameside. By instigating the course of action they hope to challenge the council’s support for the charges.In August Tameside Council voted, along with eight other Greater Manchester Councils, to go to the next stage and bid for the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) at a meeting of AGMA councils held at Dukinfield Town Hall.Only Trafford and Stockport councils voted against the TIF bid following opinion polls in those authorities that showed a lack of support for the plan. Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese gave reassurances that charges would not be introduced unless there was a credible public transport alternative. However, widespread opposition has emerged with campaigners forming groups to oppose any introduction of charges. It is one of these groups, Manchester Against Road Tax (MART), that is launching the petition.MART’s Tameside Branch organiser Rob Hardman claims Sir Richard is dismissive of public opposition to the proposals.But Sir Richard has stated: “The current debate about the future of transport in Greater Manchester is rightly intense. No-one has suggested however that do-nothing is an option.”Councillor Roger Jones, Chair of the GMPTA, said: “Our bid makes its clear that any charging scheme would not be introduced on roads until those affected have a reliable, integrated public transport system available to provide people with a real alternative to using their cars.”By agreeing to enter the bid for government funds of £1.2 billion, the local authorities would have to make up the shortfall of around £2 billion needed to provide the minimum improvements to the transport infrastructure. The councils would then impose charges on motorists using their cars inside the M60 corridor to recoup the money. Tameside Council leader Roy Oldham voted in favour of bidding for the TIF at the August meeting, stating: “We have to buy our lottery ticket to be able to enter the lottery.”This has not impressed MART Spokesman Neil Cardwell however.He said: “The drive for a Tameside referendum is in sharp contrast to the actions of Stockport and Trafford councils where political leaders commissioned local opinion polling which showed overwhelming opposition to the tax plans. “We want to make the leader of Tameside Council, Roy Oldham, listen to the views of the people they claim to represent.”If the necessary 8,000 signatures or five per cent of Tameside’s electorate are raised on the petition for a new mayor, then a contest would have to take place within six months.MART hope this would allow for the election of a mayor with an anti-congestion charge agenda. Tameside Reporter
Monday, 19 November 2007
Mayoral quest
Campaigners against plans for the controversial Congestion Charge Road Tax are to raise a petition calling for a new mayor for Tameside. By instigating the course of action they hope to challenge the council’s support for the charges.In August Tameside Council voted, along with eight other Greater Manchester Councils, to go to the next stage and bid for the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) at a meeting of AGMA councils held at Dukinfield Town Hall.Only Trafford and Stockport councils voted against the TIF bid following opinion polls in those authorities that showed a lack of support for the plan. Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese gave reassurances that charges would not be introduced unless there was a credible public transport alternative. However, widespread opposition has emerged with campaigners forming groups to oppose any introduction of charges. It is one of these groups, Manchester Against Road Tax (MART), that is launching the petition.MART’s Tameside Branch organiser Rob Hardman claims Sir Richard is dismissive of public opposition to the proposals.But Sir Richard has stated: “The current debate about the future of transport in Greater Manchester is rightly intense. No-one has suggested however that do-nothing is an option.”Councillor Roger Jones, Chair of the GMPTA, said: “Our bid makes its clear that any charging scheme would not be introduced on roads until those affected have a reliable, integrated public transport system available to provide people with a real alternative to using their cars.”By agreeing to enter the bid for government funds of £1.2 billion, the local authorities would have to make up the shortfall of around £2 billion needed to provide the minimum improvements to the transport infrastructure. The councils would then impose charges on motorists using their cars inside the M60 corridor to recoup the money. Tameside Council leader Roy Oldham voted in favour of bidding for the TIF at the August meeting, stating: “We have to buy our lottery ticket to be able to enter the lottery.”This has not impressed MART Spokesman Neil Cardwell however.He said: “The drive for a Tameside referendum is in sharp contrast to the actions of Stockport and Trafford councils where political leaders commissioned local opinion polling which showed overwhelming opposition to the tax plans. “We want to make the leader of Tameside Council, Roy Oldham, listen to the views of the people they claim to represent.”If the necessary 8,000 signatures or five per cent of Tameside’s electorate are raised on the petition for a new mayor, then a contest would have to take place within six months.MART hope this would allow for the election of a mayor with an anti-congestion charge agenda. Tameside Reporter
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
15 comments:
Sorry to piss on MART's parade, but it is Roy Oldham who selects the mayor's position and he has vowed that he will never allow an opposition member to take the helm.
Sorry to correct you T E but you can have a directly elected mayor if you hold a successful referendum.
And if you get enough signatures, then the council MUST hold a referendum
The Tameside BNP will support the petition and stand a candidate for mayor if the petition is successful. I have already appeared on local TV in May this year opposing the congestion charge
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/files/dms/Directlyelectedmayors_18302-6131__E__N__S__W__.pdf
Ah referendum that's what they have been trying to get with the congestion charge all along am I right? But our little Stalin's have totally thrown that out of the window. I wish them luck, but I doubt it will be successful.
By rights you are supposed to go through all parties on a reasonable rotation for mayor
but as we have Robert Mugabe running the council it will never happen
If Roy Oldham was black, he would look like Robert Mugabe! Anyone a dab hand with photoshop? Purnell, Parker-Perry???? Oh sorry you OUTSOURCED it to INDIA.
Yeah talk about British jobs for British people! There are plenty of freelance photographers and graphic designers in Tameside. I don't see why Purnell or TMBC could of given the work to someone local. Don't tell me they were cost cutting as £148k or so is not very frugal in my books.
That's fighting talk Liam!
It would seem that Taylor has gone as far to call the police about a "local blog".
"I have made an official complaint to the police about emails being sent to me and other people, about me. This person uses various names and they have been traced. Some people have kindly contacted me and sent me copies of the libelous material in the email's. I will be using these against this person in court shortly - you will not be surprised to know that he is connected to the bnp.
More emails today, Sunday, thank you. It's good evidence - please send more tonight. Meeting with police Monday at 2pm and seeking an ASBO against you print this off I have.
Good meeting for me officers now looking into local Blog for more evidence we know there is plenty there expect the visit now any day."
Here was me thinking Taylor could take the heat and the pressure of politics. So he has gone crying to the police that people are sending him nasty emails. What a wimp.
Tonydj,
How many signatures do you need before the council must hold a referendum?
ncb1970
5% of local electors
This is 7955 in Tameside at the moment.
see http://www.tameside.gov.uk/referenda
So if we get 8000 signatures - could we ask for a re-election or a new council leader?
If we get 8000 signatures then there must be a referendum on the question:-
"Do you want a directly elected executive Mayor?"
ie a Mayor rules Tameside not the leader of the biggest party in the Borough. If the referendum votes for a mayor then an election is held for the position. If the referendum says "No" then we "Carry On as usual"
Well we should all support the scheme and do our best to get the 8000 signatures. It would be easy, we just send teams of canvassers with clipboards to all the Tameside town centres at weekend when it is busy and we would get the signatures in no time.
Put my name down.
Who is behind this Tameside eye he seems to know alot?
Post a Comment