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11:57 am, December 12, 2008
Congestion charge plans thrown out
Greater Manchester’s residents have overwhelmingly thrown out plans to introduce a congestion charge.
More than half (53.2 per cent) returned their ballot papers and and in all ten boroughs a majority voted No.
Of the total votes cast, 812,815 (78.8 per cent) were for No and 218,860 (21.2 per cent ) voted Yes.
In some boroughs the proportion voting No was more than 80 per cent, notably Stockport where the No votes were more than 103,000 (81.3 per cent) with only 24,000 voting Yes.
Around 1.94m ballot papers were sent out across the 10 districts, with people asked to vote on whether they wanted to see a weekday, peak-time only congestion charge introduced in the city.
The result of the referendum was announced today by returning officer Sir Neil McIntosh shortly after noon at Manchester Central.
The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities said the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) bid was a once-only opportunity to secure a £2.7bn investment in public transport.
The scheme would have seen drivers paying up to £5 per day to commute across two rings around Manchester city centre during the morning and afternoon peak hours.
Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "The referendum has given a very clear outcome. I'm sure the economic downturn, which is hitting everyone hard, has had a part to play. Investment in public transport in Manchester will remain a priority for the city council and our commitment to face up to the challenges going forward remains undiminished."
The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities’ leader Lord Peter Smith said he was “disappointed” with the outcome and added that Agma would have to consider the outcome at a meeting next week. He said the result wasn’t just a ‘no’ vote for the congestion charge, but also for improvements to the Metrolink and Greater Manchester’s public transport network.
Paul Henly, regional policy manager for the Federation of Smal Business said that AGMA “should now respect the wishes of the people of Greater Manchester and we urge them to withdraw the current transport proposals at their meeting in a week’s time”.
Malcom Edge, norther chairman of accountancy firm KPMG, which advised Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive on the bid last year, said that he was “immensely disappointed” with the outcome.
“This funding would have allowed us to take the steps necessary to ensure we continue to punch above our weight on the global stage,” he said.
"However, it is accepted that this has always been a complex and emotive debate. With the public now coming to terms with the prospect of economic recession, the potential increased cost of travel that the congestion charge would bring was always going to be difficult to embrace.”
Results in detail
Bolton:
Yes 20,529
No 76,910
Rejected votes 167
Turnout 48.8%
Bury:
Yes 16,563
No 64,001
Rejected votes 94
Turnout 57.4%
Manchester:
Yes 43,593
No 113,064
Rejected votes 250
Turnout 46.1%
Oldham:
Yes 17,571
No 68, 884
Rejected votes 141
Turnout 54.4%
Rochdale:
Yes 17,333
No 61,686
Rejected votes 118
Turnout 50.8%
Salford:
Yes 14,603
No 79,326
Rejected votes 105
Turnout 57%
Stockport:
Yes 24,090
No 103,706
Rejected votes 169
Turnout 59%
Tameside:
Yes 16,323
No 83,105
Rejected votes 124
Turnout 60.7%
Trafford
Yes 20,445
No 83,568
Rejected votes 142
Turnout 63.6%
Wigan:
Yes 27,810
No 78,565
Rejected votes 132
Turnout 45.3%
Comments?manchesternews@crain.com
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