Currently reading: C-Charge: Manchester votes no
Manchester votes against congestion charge in referendum

Residents of Greater Manchester have voted against the proposals for a congestion charge zone covering the whole of the city.

Plans for a two charging rings encircling the city centre and following the M60 orbital road were rejected by 79 per cent of voters.

Nearly two million people were sent ballot papers on the charge, and 53.2 per cent opted to vote on the controversial scheme.

Motorists entering the city were polled on the proposed charge of up to £5 for entering the charging zones. A majority of votes was required in at least seven of the 10 boroughs for the scheme to be passed, but pro-congestion charge campaigners failed to win over a single borough.

The referendum, which also included plans for a £2.75bn investment in the city’s pubic transport network, took place over two weeks.

Supporters of the scheme had argued that it would pave the way for other cities, including Leeds and Bristol, to introduce a charging structure.

George Barrow

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230SL 13 December 2008

Re: Manchester says 'No' to C-charge

There is already a charge for going into Manchester and that is parking. Since the Commonwealth games they have been removing the single yellow lines which allowed free parking in the evenings, but now there is congestion by people at night looking for somewhere to leave their car without having to visit NCP (which is in cahoots with the council and their traffic wardens).

The council keep reducing the lanes and closing off streets then blame someone else for the other streets getting busier, they are more bothered about themselves than the city, surely proof of this is the development of Piccadilly Gardens including licensed premises at the expense of open space, noticed they have also allowed a bar to be built on the last bit of open space there was on Deansgate, more revenue for the council I guess.

touchwood 13 December 2008

Re: Manchester says 'No' to C-charge

Steve Steele wrote:
Anyone understand that ? Anyone ?

Yes, I do. Some buses round here run to ludicrously useless timetables.

I work on the outskirts of the proposed C zone, but would have to enter the zone and leave it again to get there from where I live. Public transport between home and work would take 2 hours each way, instead of a half hour journey by car. Also, somedays I need my car to visit customers, but I rarely know in advance.

Also, I don't believe that the charge would have stayed at £5 for long. The operating costs alone would probably have consumed most of, if not all, of that.

kerrecoe 13 December 2008

Re: Manchester says 'No' to C-charge

These 'schemes' are never really about solving problems- it's always about tax ultimately. Let's find new ways to tax the masses and when we can't find new reasons we'll make them up.

It's been the principle motivator for national policy for many a year.