Manchester mumsnetters - how are you going to vote re the Congestion Charge?

[Tinker]

I'm on the fence.

Agree with it in principle but think Manchester's public transport is still too crap (from where I live)

What do you think?

I think it'll get a No vote anyway because it just feels like another expense atm

Its a No from me.

I'm from an area which will not see much return from the proposed investment if its introduced, even if we will have to pay to travel into town.

Also I don't believe the proposed rate will stay the same for long.

Yes, not much investment where I am also. Just lots of stuff about reviewing need for a new train station etc. Um, think we need that now really.

I'm a NO. Stockport gets pretty much nothing from the scheme. I think we get something like 1 school bus and that's it.

Also, being totally subjective, I'm not paying to enter the city of my birth!

Big fat NO. DH is a driving instructor for a start.
Car journey me into work = 15 minutes
Tram journey (inc time to walk to stop & from stop to work) = 30 minutes
Bus journey = 40 minutes (not cos of congestion but because of circuitous route)

PLUS I don't beleive for a single minute all these miraculous new bus/tram/train services are actually going to materialise. Call me a cynic, but there you go.

AND I reckon if it does get a YES we'll get a 'oh, we underestimated the costs of public transport provision. Charge will be £10+

Same here, we are really lucky to have a local train station, even if it is the most run down on the line.

I don't think the money raised from the charge will make it safer at night or better staffed.

The Met was proposed to come our way many moons ago then the plan was pulled. I don't agree that we should have to pay to make it happen now.

I wonder if you're nearish to me ashoes...

Manchester should have built an underground train system instead of trams

Mahoosive NO from me and DH. What I don't get and need to clarify is how it works that the paypoint is at the top of my road . So if I need to go to the shops or something do I have to pay for that? I'll end up bloody housebound. Bastard congestion charge.

Mahoosive NO from me and DH. What I don't get and need to clarify is how it works that the paypoint is at the top of my road . So if I need to go to the shops or something do I have to pay for that? I'll end up bloody housebound. Bastard congestion charge.

see thats how strongly I feel

Our Local Cllr had this to say about it:-

The question of Manchester expecting Stockport/Poynton people to pay for THEIR improvements.

The congestion tax (for that is what it is) must raise over £1Million per week just to pay the interest on the loan before the enormous operating costs. If it doesn`t raise enough, it will go on your council tax.

Asked how long the charge would stay I was told 30 years.

I asked how many extra yellow school buses would Stockport get. You won`t believe it! Only 1, the rest of the fleet goes elsewhere.

I asked about new trains and was told we get the old stock from the south of England. Oh, and by the way, we are reducing the number of carriages on the Hazel Grove routes and changing from electric to diesel. Not making our service better making it worse.

Still want to pay?

If you live inside the ring and stay there, in other words, Didsbury, you don`t pay!

Watch out that you use your vote otherwise you will pay for it

It only applies if travelling in rush hours and doesn't apply if going against flow of traffic. Doesn't apply to me atm but am right on the outside of the area.

I think so to Tink. I'm in the Stockport area.

I agree, I love the Trams but they don't come near us at all atm. Buses are a waste of time.

Luckily I work not far from home and don't have to travel into town but I don't see why people should be taxed for the pleasure of sitting in traffic whilst these 'improvements' are made.

we are in Stockport area but outside Greater Manchester. So we won't get a vote?
If dh changes his job though and has to commute to Manchester, we will be paying!!
and we would get diddly squat in return.
it would be a NO from me.

Stockport area will get a vote - all Manchester boroughs will. Only got our voting papers today. Yes, we both work not far from home but for either of us it could certainly change.

Tink, did both you and DP get voting papers?

I was a bit concerned as DH's came today but not mine.

Is the vote is per adult on the electoral roll and not per household?

We live in Altrincham and get a vote. Its a NO from me. Like others have said we have been hearing for a long time about the improvements that will be done, its never happened and don't believe it will now.

Also totally agree before long it will be up to £10 as original budget incorrect

Yes, a vote each, not per household. Assume it's from the electoral role.

Don't touch it with a barge pole. Even if you were in favour of reducing congestion, it has now been accepted that traffic in London is worse than it was before the CC was introduced. And what really got me was that if you buy a 'season ticket' you get a reduction, so many days free or something, which proves the point that it's a tax, otherwise they wouldn't be giving any reductions.

And it's an expensive, pain in the arse.

No No No No No No No No No No No No

In Stockport area too - public transport just too crap and traffic isn't even that bad.

It's stealth tax for motorists AGAIN.

Thanks. The vote's the same in this household from both of us.

Eyeballs, as a matter of interest (from a northerner who doesn't get out of town much.), How much is the London charge now compared to when it was first introduced?

Did you register what I said.......the paypoint is at the top of my road, so if I want to go out in the morning to one of the neighbouring towns, I will have to pay for the privilege cheeky fuckers. The paypoints should be on the periphery of town, not 7 (?) bastard miles away.

Noo here (although we live in Rossendale, DH works in Manchester), he has to go between 2/3 sites in Manchester so couldn't get public transport if he wanted to.

It's a big fat no from me.

Depends which way you're travelling suwoo. Not sure whether you're in or out and where the neighbouring town is.