Date: 20/10/2008
Proposals to introduce a peak hour congestion charge in Manchester could leave High Peak residents out of pocket and local businesses unable to compete with their city counterparts, the Borough Council pointed out.
A cross party committee has formally objected to the Future Transport plans unveiled by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) and the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA).
The Council has been consulted about the plans, but cannot vote on the proposals, and has concluded that:
"While we appreciate the professional and open way in which officers from GMPTA have worked with us to discuss the proposals and identify the implications for High Peak, we cannot accept the proposals as they stand," said Councillor Anthony McKeown, Chairman of the Manchester Congestion Charges Sub-Committee. "We believe that, if the current plans go through, people and businesses travelling into the charge zones, from area like the High Peak, will be contributing towards the cost of improving a public transport system that will primarily benefit Greater Manchester.
"While GMPTA and AGMA are committed to providing 80 per cent of proposed transport improvements in Greater Manchester, before the congestion charge is introduced, people in High Peak are not being offered the same assurance. We need a firm commitment that a number of essential transport schemes, in the pipeline for High Peak, are in place before the charge comes into force."
These include:
Councillor McKeown added: "While we broadly support the principle of providing discounts or exemptions to vulnerable people and groups, we do have some concerns over how they would be applied.
"The proposed full discount for hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, registered with a Greater Manchester authority, would give Greater Manchester based firms an unfair competitive advantage over their colleagues in High Peak. Firms here would be at a distinct disadvantage, when competing for contracts within the proposed charge zones, such as regular journeys for High Peak pupils attending schools and colleges in Greater Manchester.
"In addition, High Peak haulage and delivery companies may face an unfair disadvantage when competing for contracts to deliver within the charge zone. They will incur a charge, unlike their colleagues in Greater Manchester, who, as things stand, will be able to move freely within the zones, provided they do not cross zone boundaries.
"Whilst a 100% discount is offered for some journeys to regular hospital appointments, we also believe that care needs to be taken not to penalise High Peak residents, who have to travel to key hospital appointments during peak times, or volunteer bureaux taking patients to hospital and health care appointments, as it may lead to a drop in the number of volunteers prepared to offer this valuable community service. Finally, we welcome planned discounts for low income workers, but these should be properly set and targeted, so they don't add to rising living costs or act as a disincentive for people to work, if not offered to those in genuine need.
"We appreciate the opportunity to comment, as many High Peak residents and businesses work, or regularly do business in, the proposed charge zones, but are disappointed that, unlike the district councils in Greater Manchester, we have not been given the chance to vote on such an important matter. Nevertheless, the Council will be discussing its concerns and ideas with GMPTA, to try and improve the current offer for High Peak. We trust that our concerns will be fully taken into account before the plans are finalised."