I thought Highway Robbery was a thing of the past – I was wrong!

This government continues to exact revenge on us poor motorists by levying ever increasing road fund taxes and rising petrol duty and now it is compounded by these self opinionated buffoons in Manchester with a Congestion Charge.

Residents of Stockport will receive very little in return for this hidden tax – a few bus lanes, (causing ever more congestion and frustration) cycle lanes, alleged park and ride facilities, a rebuilt bus station and a few additional second hand railway carriages tacked on to some limited additional trains and of course half a dozen school buses.

What a cheek!

If the plans succeed, people quit their cars and use public transport, then there could well be insufficient funds from the congestion charge to meet the loan costs – and you’ve guessed it – each of us will repay through our Council Tax bills or face higher congestion charges.

Should it succeed and people continue to use their cars then public transport will run empty!

For those forced to continue to use their cars, there is a further hidden cost.  Cars will be effectively required to have an electronic tag fitted at a cost of around £90.00.  This, when entering the charge zone boundary will record your journey and cause a bill to be initiated – failure to have a tag will still mean a bill and possible fine as an extra cost.

There will be exemptions to the charge - if you are attending a ‘regular medical appointment’ you will be required to be assessed at your appointment and the NHS will be required – at their expense -to forward details to the scheme to avoid the patient receiving a bill – more hidden costs!

Similarly, if you are a worker on ‘low income’ (minimum wage) you will need to provide proof to the charging scheme operator of your income and may receive a small discount off the weekly charge.

There is also a ‘hidden section’ of the proposals which under the plans provide reserve powers for additional charging rings around our major town centres – to the detriment of shopping precincts.

As it appears that Manchester does not want our custom in their shopping centre it would be a good time for us to provide additional parking facilities and one hour free parking in our own shopping centres!

One last point, the single most important project for Stockport is the completion of the MAELR, which is of course excluded from these public transport proposals.

There can be only one recommendation – say NO to the TIF proposals.

Cllr Bryan Leck
Bramhall South
Conservative

This article, by Cllr Bryan Leck, was first published by the Stockport Express 26/11/08.