Manchester facing £5 congestion charge

03 August 2007

The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities has agreed to submit a bid to the Government’s Transport Innovation Fund to develop a £3bn package of public transport improvements and the introduction of congestion charging.

Manchester is set to become the first city in England, outside the capital, to introduce congestion charging, and the first of the 10 pump-priming areas to push ahead with a TIF submission. Eight of AGMA’s 10 authorities voted for the bid, with Conservative-run Trafford and Lib Dem Stockport opposing the move. AGMA is seeking £1.2bn in TIF funding, with the remaining £1.8bn to be borrowed against forecast revenue from congestion charging.

Under the congestion charge, motorists will pay a maximum daily charge of £5 (Surveyor, 31 May 2007). Public consultation revealed the majority of residents (53%) agreed with the proposal for a peak-time weekday congestion charge of £5, and 40% disagreed. Among 1,000 businesses polled, 41% agreed and 50% disagreed.

Following consultation, it was agreed the timing of the evening charging period – currently 4pm to 6.30pm – would be reviewed. Sir Richard Leese, deputy leader of AGMA, said: ‘We all agreed investment must come first, before any congestion charging, which in any event, would only apply in the working week at peak periods.

‘This is the key to giving choices so the travelling public can enjoy realistic alternatives of reliable, high-quality public transport.’

Expressing disappointment at the decision, Cllr Susan Williams, leader of Trafford, said: ‘There are a significant number of people in Trafford who would pay congestion charging costs, but who would not necessarily benefit from public transport improvements, for example, those working in Trafford Park.’

A survey undertaken by Stockport council found 67% of local residents opposed congestion charging. Other authorities, including Shropshire, Cambridgeshire and Durham, are likely to submit TIF bids at a later date. Cambridgeshire is the only other authority to propose congestion charging at this stage (Surveyor, 19 July).

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