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Car charges shocker

Eileen Payne and Duncan Ponter
30/11/2005

DRIVERS in Stockport will have to shell out up to £1.34 a mile to use the borough's busiest roads if government plans are pushed through.

The news follows an announcement on Monday by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling that the region will get £1.25m to produce plans to tackle congestion on the heaviest roads - like the A6 and M60.

Greater Manchester, including Stockport, will pilot the scheme which could be up and running within four years.

Worried Sarah Johnson, from the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, expressed fears over the impact on business.

She said: "We are very concerned about the effect the charges could have. We hope the scheme does not just focus on business users and commuters because while they are part of the problem, they are not the whole problem."

But Stockport MP Ann Coffey, Mr Darling's parliamentary private secretary, said the road pricing could deal with roads which become completely clogged in the morning and evening rush hours.

"It could be a way forward to, for instance, charge drivers to use the A6 between 8.30-9.15am when it is clogged up and charge less or not at all after 10am," she said.

She added the proposal was not imminent, but could be a long-term solution to congestion problems.

When it was first proposed in June the scheme stated motorists could be charged up to £1.34 a mile to use the busiest roads at the peak times.

Councillor Sue Derbyshire said the road pricing would be a long-term measure and added: "Improving public transport is the most important way of overcoming traffic congestion as this would be the best way of encouraging motorists not to use their cars. An extension of the Metrolink to Stockport would help and it is very important for buses to keep to timetables," she added.

Mr Darling wants chosen areas to test satellite tracking systems for vehicles that would allow charges to be directly related to the level of traffic on the roads.


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Most recent 2 of 6 user comments

   The announcement of 1.25m pounds from Alistair Darling sounds like that he as come to our rescue in our hour of need. Doesn't it make you sick! They have already produced plans to tackle congestion on our roads many moons ago, it was called the A6 BYPASS and who put it on the back burner, ALISTAIR DARLING MP. So why are we spending 1.25m pounds on something we have already done? We have been screaming and fighting Government for extra funds so that a tram way system can come to Stockport to relive us of our woes, but what do we get, a have-baked idea of putting bus corridor's along the most busiest and narrowest roads in the country and hoping that the general public will give up there cars in favour of uncomfortable, dirt, smelly, never runs on time public transport system which should have been scrapped and put into a museum. Ann Coffey being the parliamentary private secretary is so far up his arse as no views of her own and must tow the party line and is as useful as a chocolate fire guard when it comes to Transport issues. Councillor Sue Derbyshire of Stockport is the main instigator of the road improvement program that as many Stopfordians baffled and scratching there heads. Does she think that by narrowing the roads that buses will travel faster or that traffic will magically disappear allowing buses to travel without hindrance, does she take us for MUPPETS! I agree with everybody who as commented on this story and I think before this council boobs again rethink its transport policy and focus on getting the bypass back on track and also getting the rapid transport system into Stockport. Ann Coffey should be telling Mr Darling where to put OUR money and not agreeing to fund pilot projects like this or she and her party might find themselves back in never never land again for good.

David, Stockport
10/12/2005 at 14:38
   Isit me? I thought we were already being charged to use these roads! Isnb<sup>TM</sup>t that why we have the most expensive fuel in Europe? Why we are charged road tax! Why should the people of greater Manchester then have to pay again for something we are already paying for? if the want to relive congestion on the A6 get rid of those stupid bus lanes and if they must remove bus lay-bys and insist buses stop on the A6 holding up the traffic and causing congestion (hardly "cleaner greener safer stronger" Stockport council!) then they should bring back the bus conductor so the traffic can keep flowing, causing less harmful emissions.
Sean, Cale Green
7/12/2005 at 13:39
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