Road Pricing Must Not Affect City Centre Residents Say Lib Dems (Cllr Marc Ramsbottom)

Cllr Marc Ramsbottom <info@marcramsbottom.org.uk>

Road Pricing Must Not Affect City Centre Residents Say Lib Dems

May 26, 2007 8:00 PM

Congestion on one of the main corridors into Manchester on Oxford Road.

Congestion on Oxford Road

Local Lib Dem City Centre Councillor Marc Ramsbottom has made it clear that if Labour introduce road pricing in Greater Manchester, then it should not affect city centre residents.

His call comes as Town Hall bosses reveal further details of the charging scheme that proposes an outer cordon, roughly following the M60, and a further ring around the intermediate ring road. Charges for passing through each will vary depending on which one of 15 different corridors drivers use. Rush-hour drivers on the busiest roads will pay £5 a day in charges.

But motorists who use the roads outside the morning and evening peak or going in the opposite direction to congestion will NOT pay a penny.

In addition, charging goes hand in hand with over £3bn investment on metrolink, buses and trains.

"Liberal Democrats have stated publicly that the investment in public transport must come first to reduce reliance on the car and encourage people on to public transport," said Cllr Ramsbottom. "City Centre residents should be unaffected by congestion charging, because they often live close to their place of work and either walk or use public transport. They are probably the most environmental responsibility when it comes to transport", he added.

The ten local authorities in Greater Manchester have agreed to go to the next stage of preparing a bid to the Department for Transport. This will include seeking the views of the public. You can go to a dedicated website on road pricing/congestion charging in Greater Manchester at www.gmfuturetransport.co.uk