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C-charge nothing to do with traffic
26/ 9/2008
IT’S not entirely clear in the advert for the Greater Manchester YES Campaign that appeared in Metro News last week what they are voting yes for.
An improved transport system or a congestion charge?
I think most people would vote yes for an improved transport system.
Yet is this is wholly dependent on the introduction of a congestion charge?
The people who said they would be voting yes in the advert do not mention congestion.
Tommy Walsh from the Pensioners’ Association says he will vote yes because "pensioners really need a boost to their transport services."
What has this got to do with congestion?
This is about improved transport, and as he is a pensioner he would, like me, be using free transport after the congestion charge period.
His desired improvements are not relevant to congestion and he should not expect people to pay at congestion times for these.
The case being put forward by this campaign is that we would all like a better transport system – there is not much about congestion being a problem.
In fact, by having a congestion charge to repay the government it would be counter-productive to deter drivers from using their cars at the congestion charge periods as not much revenue would be raised.
The advert says that 90 per cent of people will not have to pay a daily congestion charge.
This is a bit vague.
Which people?
Ninety per cent of those driving at congestion charge periods?
In which case this doesn’t go a long way to reducing congestion.
Or is it 90 per cent of all drivers using a car?
It’s not at all clear.
Why should motorists have to pay for these improvements?
They already pay for a vehicle licence and about 70 per cent tax on fuel.
No doubt, some of the money the Government would ‘loan’ for the transport improvements would come from these taxes.
Since the bus and train operators should expect extra passengers and increased revenue (and more profit), why shouldn’t they contribute towards the funding?
There is a mention of more buses (with more fumes). At peak times?
Sometimes buses contribute to the congestion.
What is the YES campaign about? Providing better transport or trying to reduce congestion?
What’s more, how much is all this all going to cost?
KA Smith, Ripley Crescent, Urmston
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15/10/2008 at 15:34