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[Cliffo B]

Well voted Manchester

[Andy B]

Apparently another city will now have the chance to vote No for a congestion charge now that Manchester has f***ed it off.  :-/  

[gwa]

Obviously there's a lot of sensible people in Manchester  

[Elite Pete]

Obviously there's a lot of sensible people in Manchester  

On the blue side there is

[zippo]

Obviously there's a lot of sensible people in Manchester  

On the blue side there is

 theres only one  side in Manchester  

[Elite Pete]

Obviously there's a lot of sensible people in Manchester  

On the blue side there is

 theres only one  side in Manchester  

What about Moss

[jjleonard]

What's the betting this will turn into another situation like the lisbon treaty in ireland - the government will give Manchester 'another' chance to vote, having 'properly educated' them about the options...

[mantahatch]

What's the betting this will turn into another situation like the lisbon treaty in ireland - the government will give Manchester 'another' chance to vote, having 'properly educated' them about the options...

[/highlight]

Which of course basically means "accept this charge or you will be royally bent over the desk and rodgered stupid"

[zippo]

where will it be tried next, Liverpool may be ?

[kris9128]

heres something i just read, In the event of a "no" vote, the local authorities in Manchester would first have to agree to a new package – highly unlikely in the face of a popular vote rejecting current plans; these are politicians after all. The government would then have to give the go-ahead to a new scheme – again, highly unlikely if key principles of Transport Innovation Funding like the congestion charge were left out. And all this would need to happen before any other city – already queuing up to get their slice of the pot – put in their own bid.

does any of that make sense  :-? :-?

[MarkG]

What's interesting is that even though it was only residents of Greater Manchester who had a vote, it was still a resounding NO. Everyone else living outside of Manchester - those people who need cars to get in and out - those who are the majority of car users (like me) got no vote. All of us out of towners would have voted NO as well.

The scheme was rediculous in size. It was way too ambitious and will scupper any future proposals. What needs to happen is for viable alternative to be developed first. Jez, they can't even get the poxy tram system to run reliably.

Frankly, I don't know what all the traffic congention fuss is all about in Manchester anyway. It really is not so bad. It's only roadworks and crashes which snarl things up. Congestion regulates itself anyway by incentivising those who can, travel a little later or a little earlier. Whacking on a charge won't regulate traffic - it simply penalises those who must travel at peak times.

[HolyCount]

t the end og the day, wherever it is, successive governments (of all colours) have gradually eroded the public transport system into virtual non-existence!  If they put in place a well run, reasonably priced and effective transport infrastructure comgestion would sort itself out naturally. We would not have been forced to be so reliant on the car ---- in many cases there is no choice!

Montpelier has the right idea, a tram network in the city centre, which runs like ... well .. clockwork, fed by a bus network from the suburbs. One, low priced,  ticket works on all and is valid for travel within the network for a limited time.

[theowletman]

heres something i just read, In the event of a "no" vote, the local authorities in Manchester would first have to agree to a new package – highly unlikely in the face of a popular vote rejecting current plans; these are politicians after all. The government would then have to give the go-ahead to a new scheme – again, highly unlikely if key principles of Transport Innovation Funding like the congestion charge were left out. And all this would need to happen before any other city – already queuing up to get their slice of the pot – put in their own bid.

does any of that make sense  :-? :-?

In laymans terms it means that sooner or later the charge will be introduced, whether the public voted yes or no. There are too many anti car people in local and national government, remember this when the elections rear their ugly head. Public transport is not an alternative for many people who start or finish work at unsocial times or who have to work the public holidays and sundays.The onus should be on the government to ensure that public transport is available and affordable to ALL, not just those who live on popular profitable routes. Anyway, as Clarkson says about bus lanes, why do poor people need to travel faster in London than those with cars ?