Some excerpts from the debate:
From Mark Hunter, Lib Dem from Cheadle:
What makes it even more invidious is that the people in Stockport borough will not get the promised public transport improvements - not in the foreseeable future, anyway.
That's interesting. So Stockport won't see anything from this?
Andrew Gwynne, Labour for Reddish and Denton:
what Greater Manchester proposes is a two-ring system with a £2 charge for passing the M60 outer ring and £1 charge for passing the inner ring with a further £2 charge to return over the M60. Charges would apply only at peak times and in the direction of the congestion. That takes no account of local travel and of allowing communities to operate in a joined-up way, as they have always done... I have absolutely no answer to the young mum who came to my advice bureau recently. She lives in Audenshaw, one of the towns sliced in two by the M60, works in Ashton-under-Lyne, and travels away from the peak traffic flow in the morning and evening, so ordinarily would not be charged, but she has to drop her daughter off at a local private day nursery, which is in her community of Audenshaw and less than quarter of a mile from where she lives. Because it is on the opposite side of the M60, she would be charged £2 a day under the proposals. When she told me that that will not tackle congestion because she is not causing it, and that it will merely add £10 a week to her child care bill, I had no answer, and the Greater Manchester scheme has no acceptable answer either.
That's pretty interesting as well. People essentially crossing the road will get screwed by the proposal. I wonder if it will be the same in Urmston for the Trafford Centre?
There's more here.
It seems, overwhelmingly, like the main MP in favor of the proposal is the one from Manchester Central. Most of the other quotes came from MPs from boroughs outside of Manchester. The ones that would be impacted. I already know the useless ones from Wigan are steadfastly behind the whole thing, despite the dreadful train service.
The thing that gets me though, is the unhealthy and misplaced optimism coming from the politicians supporting it. I mean, the transport network needs investment (that's why Manchester Transport Sucks!) But surely a TIF bid isn't the only way? And why is so much money spent on London when Manchester is suffering?
