C-charge boundary change ‘a gimmick’

LABOUR has blasted Lib-Dem plans to change the congestion charge boundary as a gimmick — and come up with its own proposal to stop local journeys being charged.

The move comes after Lib-Dem leader Councillor Howard Sykes demanded that the outer ring charging point is positioned further south of the M60 to allow for journeys within Hollinwood without having to pay.

Otherwise he says it will create numerous difficulties and anomalies for hundreds of people in the borough, including traffic to and from Oldham’s Greengate industrial area.

But Labour leader Councillor Jim McMahon said: “The plan put forward by the Lib-Dems is just tweaking with the edges and does not address the real issues of concern to most people.

“For instance, by moving the boundary from the M60 to Mersey Road North, not one residential property in the whole of Failsworth will benefit”.

Labour wants all localised journeys to be exempt from the controversial charge, with drivers who cross the M60 outer ring only charged if they cross the inner ring around Manchester as well.

Councillor McMahon said: “Under our proposal, no local journeys would be charged and a balance would be struck between the need to reduce the congestion in the City of Manchester and not penalising those living around the M60 boundary.”

Councillor Dave Hibbert, Labour’s spokesman for regeneration, said: “Councillor Sykes refers to their scheme as being the answer to Oldhamers not being affected by the congestion charge, yet he has completely overlooked the fact that over 21,000 residents of the borough would still be within the zone.

“This is divisive and just convinces people further that the Lib-Dems have no interest in certain parts of the borough where they have no elected representation.”

The congestion charge is part of a programme that would release up to £3 billion, under the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) — i bringing trams into Oldham town centre.

Labour’s response to the TIF consultation states that it recognises the scheme will go a long way to improving, and increasing the use of, public transport and that the congestion charge is a key part of paying for it.

But it adds: “We do not believe that people should be charged for localised journeys that have no impact on congestion.”

Oldham Council has launched an information campaign ahead of the December 11 referendum on TIF.