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Road toll delayed until 2013, says transport chief

11/02/2008

The introduction of a congestion charge scheme in Manchester has been delayed until 2013 due to legal problems.

Manchester transport chief Roger Jones has said the road toll will not come into effect until 2013 rather than 2012 because of the legality of having a public consultation around the local elections, reports the Salford Advertiser.

Sometime in the next few months the government will approve or reject funding to improve Manchester's transport system. If successful, a four-month public consultation will take place although this is not allowed when a local election is pending.

Councillor Jones told the paper: "It's not a secret that we are reaching the end of these negotiations and the civil servants will now pass it to the ministers.

"The consultation will then have to be after the local elections and will run for four months. It follows then that we are a little behind."

He also stressed that a road toll will not be introduced until the buses, trains and trams have been improved.

His comments come as the Department for Transport awards £50,000 to refurbish Swinton train station, which is located near Salford's city hall.