Fri 13 Jun 2008
Manchester granted £3bn for transport improvements
The city of Manchester has been granted a further £3bn towards improving its public transport network.Greater Manchester will now introduce a congestion charging scheme, the first outside of London, which will come into effect in 2013. Drivers will be charged a limited use toll, costing around £5 per day to drive during peak times of the morning and afternoon.
The additional revenue generated from the congestion charge will reportedly go towards increasing the frequency of trams, buses, new and improved bus interchanges and refurbishments to train stations.
Lord Peter Smith, leader of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA), said: “This announcement is great news for Greater Manchester. As a successful and growing economy, congestion is an increasing problem and one we cannot afford to ignore. This will provide a level of investment not seen before outside of London, and will transform our public transport system into one capable of supporting the growth of the region for years to come.”
Transport secretary Ruth Kelly (pictured) said: "It is essential that we provide people with greater choice over how and when they travel, cut congestion on our roads and take the right decisions for our quality of life, the environment and the long-term health of our economy."
However, the congestion charge scheme has been met with opposition from a number of people who live and work in Manchester.
Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers attacked the proposals saying Ruth Kelly was "bullying Manchester".
Posted by Marc Da-Silva
in Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, Lord Peter Smith, News, Ruth Kelly, Theresa Villiers on Fri 13 Jun 2008
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