Are you looking forward to paying more tax? If you are a driver you will, if you vote in favour of Congestion Charging. We have been told that this scheme would bring investment into public transport, BUT no-one can give a straight answer to the question 'what benefits are there for the residents of Stockport?'

The proposals show 2 rings around Greater Manchester. You would pay when you cross each one at peak times. Present plans show the cost of crossing the outer ring inbound as £2 (at 2007 prices) and the inner ring inbound as £1 (again at last years’ prices). Then, going out, crossing the inner ring £1 and crossing the outer ring £1 (also 2007 prices). That is £100 every month or up to £1200 each year if you commute across both rings. For many people who need to make complex journeys into work the options to avoid these charges – making horrendously long journeys, perhaps with changes, by public transport or changing our working hours, simply is not possible.

At present prices the annual cost equates to the Band 'C' Council Tax. With this additional burden on your finances what will you have to do to compensate? You may decide to cut back on your food bill; forgoe your annual holiday or cut back on meals and drinks out with friends. You certainly cannot expect a pay rise to recompense you. 

Those of us who live in Stockport, Hazel Grove or Cheadle and need to drive into Manchester during the charging period, would be badly affected. Only a couple of days ago Ben Jeffreys, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Cheadle commented to me that,  "the Conservatives oppose Labour's Congestion Charge Tax. Of course we need improved public transport in Manchester, but the Congestion Charge Tax unfairly hits hard pressed motorists and people on low pay. It hits teachers and nurses working in Manchester's schools and hospitals, whom we need to protect by voting 'No' in December's referendum."

A number of residents in my own ward of Heatons North have made the point that if London is any guide, the proposed charges will soon rise and make it totally uneconomic to work within the rings. 

Annesley Abercorn, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Hazel Grove made the valid point that, 'the scheme would literally cut Stockport in two, leaving parts of the Borough like Brinnington and Reddish trapped inside the outer charging band'.

If you have to pay this much just to get to work, how long before we start to feel the adverse effect on the prosperity and economy of Stockport? Vote 'NO' when the time comes.

Cllr Les Jones
Heatons North

This article, by Cllr Les Jones, was first published by the Stockport Express 15/10/2008.