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Manchester considers charge
Page 16
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Hauliers delivering to businesses in Manchester could be forced to pay for the privilege in the future. Guy Sheppard reports.
BRITAIN'S BIGGEST congestion charge zone could be created around Manchester in a bid to fund public transport improvements.
Transport Secretary Alistair Darling has told local councils that cash to extend the region's Metrolink light rail system will be forthcoming only if they draw up a bold strategy for tackling congestion.
As a result, Roger Jones, chairman of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, says consultants will be instructed to examine congestion charging in greater depth.
He favours extending any zone up to the M60 motorway, arguing that limiting it to central Manchester would inevitably be resisted by local councillors. However, i t's a move that's sure to anger the business community as the proposed zone encompasses the massive Trafford Park industrial estate.
Haulage and distribution firm AK Worthington is based at Trafford Park. Chairman Tony Worthington says the congestion charge will solve nothing:-It's just another tax on working isn't it? It's not as though the city centre has that much of a congestion problem anyway,it's not like London in that respect.
"The real problem is when you build an orbital road around Britain's second city. make it only two lanes wide and have sections that are unusable when it rains because it doesn't drain properly. They should sort these issues out first."
Other business leaders are strongly opposed to the idea. The Cheshire-based Forum of Private Business claims it would be commercial suicide for the region.
Chief executive Nick Goulding says: "Introducing congestion charging in Manchester would be tantamount to sending a wrecking ball into Manchester's small business community.