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Road pricing scheme faces setback after support collapses

17/04/2007

A number of non-Labour councils have withdrawn their support for a controversial scheme to introduce congestion charging in Greater Manchester after claiming they were unaware of the details of the plans.

Despite initially supporting the scheme, Stockport, Rochdale and Trafford councils have subsequently stated that they were misled about the proposals to charge motorists on several major traffic corridors.

The Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) has failed to divulge essential information regarding the exact nature of the charges, the opposing councils have said.

However, the GMPTE has said that all ten councils would receive more specific information about the scheme at the end of next month.

A spokesman for the Manchester Against Road Tolls organisation told the BBC that he welcomed the withdrawal of support from the three councils but warned that once the forthcoming local elections are over, "the majority of the politicians will force these plans through".

"We urge all those in the Greater Manchester area to make their views known to local councillors and MPs," he added.

According to transport bosses, drivers who use Manchester's roads at the busiest times would have to pay the most per mile, while off-peak motorists would be charged less or nothing at all.



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