Congestion: a charge too far

MPS have been told of concerned Oldham residents who could face charges if a congestion zone was introduced - even when they were trying to get away from Manchester.

Ashton MP David Heyes, said while he welcomed the “unprecedented level” of investment in Greater Manchester’s public transport, the details needed to be right.

Speaking in Westminster about plans to introduce a congestion charge zone, the Labour MP told of how Ashton is dissected by the M60.

Four of his wards are on the inner side of the motorway, ringing Failsworth and Droylsden, and five are outside, in Ashton and Hollinwood.

Mr Heyes said: “Many of my constituents have told me of their worries about the impact of the congestion charge as they move about their immediate localities.”

Mr Heyes questioned whether a peak-hour congestion charge would be payable by people whose journey is “essentially out of the congestion charging zone but peripherally into it” with people leaving the area being directed into the zone briefly.

Concerns surrounding possible charges for staff at Kaskenmoor secondary school, and pupils, with some coming from outside the zone, was also raised.

Mr Heyes added: “We are to have a new Metrolink station, coupled with a park-and-ride facility, whereby travellers from outside the M60 ring can park and transfer to the tram to complete their journey into Manchester city centre.

“Because the station sits just inside the M60 ring, will travellers face a congestion charge?

“That would be bizarre, because those people would be trying to avoid causing congestion by using public transport.”

A letter from a Failsworth constituent was read out.

It told of how taking someone from Failsworth to Oldham Lyceum would result in a charge.

The letter continued: “It is clearly unacceptable to charge somebody simply because they already live within the outer ring and are trying to get AWAY from Manchester or are trying to return home!”

Mr Heyes concluded: “Failsworth is part of Oldham. It is just about the only part of Oldham that is inside the M60 ring and it faces being terribly disadvantaged if those Oldham citizens want to travel to their own sub-regional centre at peak times.

“For them, it would be a charge too far.”