Voters delivered a resounding 'No' today to plans for Britain's biggest road charging zone. The Greater Manchester scheme was rejected in all ten boroughs involved in the referendum, in which more than 1,033,000 people voted, a turnout of 53.2 per cent. The plans needed a majority in favour in at least seven local authority districts to get the go-ahead. The results, announced by returning officer Sir Neil McIntosh at Manchester Central conference centre, will deal a fatal blow to the scheme, which would have created the country's biggest road congestion zone, charging drivers up to £5 a day to use the region's roads. A fierce campaign had been waged by both Yes and No groups. The Yes campaign, a coalition of local firms, unions and pressure groups in favour, had argued that the region had a once-and-for-all chance to get billions invested in local transport.The No campaign said the plans would hit the local economy, were unfair and would cost drivers up to £1,200 a year.The ten local councils in the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) had combined to make the bid to the Government's Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) to pay for investment in public transport. This would have included Government grants of £1.5 billion from the TIF fund and £1.2billion of local funding taken out as a 30-year loan by AGMA and partly paid for by future revenue from the congestion charge. The area involved in the proposed charge zone would have covered about 80 square miles, corresponding to the area within the M60 orbital motorway. By contrast the original zone covered by the London Congestion Charge was about eight square miles. The Government argues that it must tackle congestion now to avoid gridlock tomorrow and just building more roads is not financially possible or environmentally acceptable.Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council and one of the chief exponents of the planned congestion charge scheme, said: 'I am very disappointed. It does mean we have lost the opportunity to get the changes in public transport we need. Daily Mail
Friday, 12 December 2008
Greater Manchester overwhelmingly rejects Labour’s latest tax initiative
Voters delivered a resounding 'No' today to plans for Britain's biggest road charging zone. The Greater Manchester scheme was rejected in all ten boroughs involved in the referendum, in which more than 1,033,000 people voted, a turnout of 53.2 per cent. The plans needed a majority in favour in at least seven local authority districts to get the go-ahead. The results, announced by returning officer Sir Neil McIntosh at Manchester Central conference centre, will deal a fatal blow to the scheme, which would have created the country's biggest road congestion zone, charging drivers up to £5 a day to use the region's roads. A fierce campaign had been waged by both Yes and No groups. The Yes campaign, a coalition of local firms, unions and pressure groups in favour, had argued that the region had a once-and-for-all chance to get billions invested in local transport.The No campaign said the plans would hit the local economy, were unfair and would cost drivers up to £1,200 a year.The ten local councils in the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) had combined to make the bid to the Government's Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) to pay for investment in public transport. This would have included Government grants of £1.5 billion from the TIF fund and £1.2billion of local funding taken out as a 30-year loan by AGMA and partly paid for by future revenue from the congestion charge. The area involved in the proposed charge zone would have covered about 80 square miles, corresponding to the area within the M60 orbital motorway. By contrast the original zone covered by the London Congestion Charge was about eight square miles. The Government argues that it must tackle congestion now to avoid gridlock tomorrow and just building more roads is not financially possible or environmentally acceptable.Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council and one of the chief exponents of the planned congestion charge scheme, said: 'I am very disappointed. It does mean we have lost the opportunity to get the changes in public transport we need. Daily Mail
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38 comments:
A big thank you to local Labour for giving us the referendum, hope you all used the vote they gave you.
This is a message to every Labour Councillor who rubbished my campaign against the congestion charge proposals, arguing that it would not affect local Audenshaw residents.
Well done for showing yourselves to be real hyporites!
EAT YOUR WORDS!
Stacey K
Well done to all the Conservatives for all the wonderful work you have done in your campaign against the congestion charge. A special well done to Gareth, Liam, Paul B, Councillor Kelly and all Tameside Conservatives.
Whos Stacey shes not been seen for months and she lost the Tories the seat in Audenshaw on this issue.
Tameside Conservatives are on the rise watch this space
The only thing on the rise for the Tories in Tameside are John Bells expenses.
I was interviewed by GMTV during the 2007 (yes 2007) Council election and unequivocally opposed the con-charge.
Even then we could see what zanu-Labour was planning.
Good result and congrats to all who supported a NO vote
What a magnificent result. Two fingers up to the Labour tormentors of the poor.
Everybody knows the biggest and best no campaign was run by Andrew Gwynne MP the Tories did just a bit less than sod all and Stacey was nowhere to be seen again,what is she up to could it be true shes got the Werneth seat.
Why did John Bell and his assistant Richard Ashton order Tory councillors to vote yes to the TIF bid?
Viva John Bell
still got the blues
The Tories vote yes for the TIF bid to try and show they wanted the investment we all know is needed in the area for better transport.
But they lost their nerve when a few residents gave them some grief about the charge that would come with it.
Like their leader they are lightweights in political terms and that's why they are the worst performing Tory group in the country.
John Bell us a bad performer... Next time you see him at Hyde District Assembly, notice his jazz hands. They put Liza Minelli to shame.
Well my money is on John Bell in the Conservative revival in Tameside he's a good chap great leader.
Do you think Johns hair is his own I cant tell,what do you think
Of course John's hair is his own as are his teeth.
John will lead the local Conservative group in Tameside to a great victory once Roy's gone.
You are chatting shit "always blue". Why does John Bell need Roy to go before he can lead the way in Tameside? Pathetic.
What is a political assistant employed by TMBC doing on here?
Two Political genius' in the same picture. Brill.
No Voter - you a wrong to say "Stacey's not been seen for ages"! I work full time unlike some of your Labour Coucillors yet still find time to attend DA meetings unlike some. You should be asking what's happened to Councillor Jean Brazil as she really hasn't been seen in ages.
Stacey.
Oh I do apologise Stacey how wrong of me let me put it right in the past eight months you have put in two hours work how you managed to fit this in with your heavy schedule is beyond me.
Please accept me apologies the voters of Audenshaw dont know what their missing you little work horse.
So who is NO voter anyway? Show yourself as I have. You're obviously someone who ass/u/mes a lot.
Westy that card you sent me was rubbish looks like you have run out of funds again.
The card is cheap and nasty reminds me of your party.
Mr Wild I hear that someone reported you daughter to the dss for working and getting benefits?
That's two hours more than Jean Brazil Mr No Voter or is it that sad man from Dukinfield John Taylor
You keep hounding Stacey bit of a pervert we all think.
That's two hours more than Jean Brazil Mr No Voter or is it that sad man from Dukinfield John Taylor
You keep hounding Stacey bit of a pervert we all think.
More than 300 murderers, rapists and other serious offenders handed life sentences under Labour are already back on the streets.
I s the picture on the blog article James Purnell in the guise of a Loan Shark? 28% social fund interest!
Paul Kidd has today been sentenced to a minimum of 6 years in prison, his actual sentence is indeterminate, but he will serve the judges recommendation.
I sometimes despair of lenient sentences handed down by judges in many cases, let us hope there are mitigating circumstances in this case as this is the equivalent to a 12 year standard sentence, which without hearing the evidence seems on the low side for the offences he admitted.
I have refrained from commenting on this case, as the justice system has to have its day unhindered.
I am very saddened on a personal level to have been such a poor judge of character, my only defence is nobody else knew either.
I would also like to say that I am heartened by the restraint Tameside Politicians, candidates and supporters have shown in not making this a party political issue.
Thank you all and Merry Christmas
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