‘We will not pay’ said voters

Reporter: Karen Doherty
Date online: 15 December 2008

GREATER Manchester’s landslide ‘NO’ vote against congestion charging is a major blow to Oldham’s regeneration, said council leader Howard Sykes.

And pressure is now being put on the Government to provide cash for public transport improvements — promised in return for the week-day, peak-time toll — such as re-routing Metrolink through the town centre.

Greater Manchester residents voted 4-1 against the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) proposals to pump £2.8 billion into public transport improvements, £1.2 billion in the form of a loan to be paid back with profits from the charge.

Seven out of the 10 councils in the region had to back the package for it to go ahead. But people in every borough voted No.

In Oldham, 17,571 (20 per cent) of residents were in favour and 68,884 (80 per cent) against, with a 54.4 per cent turn out.

The results were greeted with cheers as they were announced at Manchester Central convention complex on Friday afternoon.

But the Government has said there is no plan B for funding the proposed improvements, which included continuing the already secured Mumps Metrolink extension into Oldham town centre.

This is an integral part of the borough’s regeneration plans, says disappointed council leader Howard Sykes. “The bottom line is that the people have spoken very clearly and we have to respect that. This isn’t Mugabe’s Zimbabwe where we can simply change things to suit our arguments.

“But we also can’t hide the fact that the No vote is a major blow for our regeneration and renewal plans for the borough.

“We now need to reflect on the result to see where we go from here.”

He said Metrolink in the heart of Oldham would have given the borough a competitive edge, adding: “Yes, we are still getting Metrolink via the existing railway line with some options for the eventual location of the current Mumps station still offering certain possibilities.

“While this is obviously good for our borough, Metrolink running right through the heart of Oldham town centre is the prize we really crave.”

However, Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher said: “I have always thought the congestion charge system was too complex.

“I do not believe that much-needed transport infrastructure should depend on people paying up front for congestion charging.

“What we have to do now is to ensure that the transport improvements that are required still go ahead — this includes further stages of the Oldham Metrolink.”

Oldham’s Conservatives campaigned against the proposals and are now demanding Government investment.

Tory group leader Jack Hulme branded congestion charging a stealth tax and said: “We have never been against improvements to the transport infrastructure and we will continue to campaign for £1.7 billion from the Exchequer to fund the improvements.

“We note the vast sums of money recently allocated to the Northern Rock bank and call upon the Government to allocate a small fraction of this money towards Greater Manchester.”


MOST town centre shoppers who spoke to the Oldham Chronicle welcomed the news.
The 80 square-mile charging zone would have been the largest in the country with motorists paying up to £5 a day (at today’s prices) to travel in and out of Manchester.

Joiner Mark Jones (32) lives on the Oldham/Rochdale border. He has his own business and said: “We work in and out of Manchester and the congestion charge would have cost me a fortune.”

Friends Jackie Newton (36) and Hannah Saj (29), both from Lees, were also pleased and Jackie said: “We deserve better public transport anyway regardless of the congestion charge.”

But 38-year-old Darren Jones from Holts voted ‘Yes’ and said: “I got rid of my car because I can’t afford it. I was hoping for more buses and a tram link.”

Spindles Town Square shopping centre manager Mike Flanagan added: “As far as the shopping centre is concerned, I do not think it will have too much effect in the short-term. What the long-term effect will be, I do not know.”


HOW THE PLANS GOT DERAILED

Voting in the boroughs went like this;

(Borough For Against Turnout %)

Bolton 20,529 76,910 48.8

Bury 16,563 64,001 57.4

Manchester 43,593, 113,064 46.1

Oldham 17,571 68,884 54.4

Rochdale 17,333 61,686 50.8

Salford 14,603 79,326 57

Stockport 24,090 103,706 59

Tameside 16,323 83,105 60.7

Trafford 20,445 83,568 63.6

Wigan 27,810 78,565 45.3






Where do we go from here?

What next? Oldham’s cabinet will today discuss the failed TIF bid which is believed to have cost more than £20 million.

The 10 council leaders of Greater Manchester will then meet on Friday to formally ratify the referendum and decide where to go from here.

Ministers are now inviting bids for similar TIF schemes from areas such as Cambridge, Bristol and Leeds — but the rout in Greater Manchester could signal the end of the road for other traffic-charging plans.

London and Durham are the only cities with congestion zones and Oldham’s Labour group leader Councillor Jim McMahon said: “We will do what we can to work with the Government to get the best investment deal for transport in the borough.

“What is clear is this has become a referendum on congestion charging rather than the full package of investment.”

Phil Woolas, Oldham East and Saddleworth MP, added: “This is not the end of the matter for transport in Greater Manchester, but clearly the voters have told us to think our plans through again and that is what we will do.”

Local rail-users’ group STORM called for improvements, and secretary Peter Dawson said: “For good or bad, at least the outcome was clear. The challenge now for our political and transport leaders is to make the most of the opportunities still available.

“That has not been the case for a long time in Greater Manchester. Most neighbouring areas, including West Yorkshire and Lancashire County, have found ways to make noticeable improvements to public transport that have eluded, or been ignored by, Greater Manchester.”