David
Sumberg MEP
Date: 30/01/2005
SUMBERG: Congestion Charge would spell disaster for Manchester
North West MEP David Sumberg says a congestion charge in Manchester would bring misery to the city and surrounding areas taxing commuters and crippling businesses.
Mr Sumberg, the former Bury South MP, is responding to reports that the Transport Secretary Alistair Darling has written to the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (PTA) telling it that Government funding for the Metrolink expansion would only be forthcoming if "Manchester comes forward with a bold integrated package to tackle congestion." The Guardian newspaper reports this is a clear steer for councils to consider congestion charging. (See notes to editors)Mr Sumberg said there is no appetite for road tolls in Manchester and the idea for a cordon on the M60, as favoured by Roger Jones chairman of the PTA, is ill-thought through and would be enormously expensive and difficult to implement.
"This is a further betrayal by the Labour Government over Metrolink and the earlier promise to provide unconditional funding for it,' he said. "Now is the opportunity for Labour MPs to decide whether their loyalty lies with Manchester or the Labour Party by standing up and opposing this proposal. Introducing a road tolls scheme of this size is a quite shameless attempt to squeeze yet more tax from the beleaguered motorist and business community, ordinary people with families balancing tight budgets."
Mr Sumberg said the proposal would set alarm bells ringing amoung commuters and businesses across Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Lancashire who have no option but to travel in and out of the M60 on a daily basis.
"This whole idea is fatally flawed and potentially disastrous,' he said. "It smacks bully boy tactics from the Government, a classic iron fist in a velvet glove. Mr Darling is basically saying you can have some Metrolink money but really you're going to have to pay for it yourselves. And just how on earth is a congestion charge in Manchester going to raise £500m? In London, which has far more traffic than Manchester it has only raised £65m in its first year way short of the estimated £130 - £200m. The Metrolink is desperately needed but a congestion charge would neuter and cancel out any of its benefits. Mr Darling's road toll plan is doomed - it must be stopped dead in its tracks."