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Say ‘no’ to the congestion charge

Jo Rostron
8/ 2/2007

PROPOSALS to charge motorists up to £6 a day simply to get to work have fired Middleton residents into action.

As we reported last week, townsfolk are set to be hit particularly badly by plans, which would see Rochdale Road become one of 15 'charging corridors' across Greater Manchester.

The Middleton & North Manchester Guardian launched a petition to oppose the charges and in under a week more than 100 readers have already signed up to our campaign, with others actively collecting signatures in their neighbourhoods.

But it is important that level of support is maintained with the scheme moving another step closer on Friday after transport chiefs approved the move to draw up detailed plans.

Already a huge number of issues and concerns have been raised about how this will affect people in the area, and not just financially.

A heath care worker at North Manchester General Hospital, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I have no option but to use these roads to travel to and from work, or between the North Manchester and Oldham sites.

"Another 'tax' on my hard earned income makes me wonder how this will affect not only my pocket and those of my colleagues (hundreds of them), but health care in general for the chronically sick living in this area when staff are already fed up to the teeth with health service cuts, threats of redundancy, and relocation of services."

Middleton resident Barry Wiltshire submitted his comments on-line. He said: "The great carrot being dangled before us is the expansion of the Metrolink, well I've got news for our lords and masters, not everybody lives within walking distance of either the existing or proposed Metrolink lines.

"Another issue to be considered is the high level of taxation levied on fuel, so less journeys by car equates to less money going into the chancellor's coffers and who do you think will pay for the shortfall?"

  • YOU can add your voice to the debate either by writing to us at the Middleton Guardian, 24a Fountain Street, Middleton, M24 1AH or via this website.

| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(6) | Video ClipsWatch video (1 clips)


Most recent 2 of 6 user comments

   As a former resident of middleton i am totally digusted with this idea. I live 45 minutes away from London and what they have done with the congestion charge there is disgraceful. The people who want to work, have to work are once again hit where it hurts and that is the pocket. how can people actually vote for people like Ken Livingstone when he and the government always keep taking from the people who are trying to earn an honest living for themselves and their families. But this is modern day Britain and it is an absolute shame what has happenned to our once 'great' Britain
Marc Goodall, Maldon Essex (Formeley of Hollin, Middleton)
1/03/2007 at 15:45
   well it looks like all motorist are going to get hit again well i think its true when i was young people was saying that one day the government will be telling us what to do when are people going to stand up to this government we cant smoke don't do this don't do that come on stand up and be counted.
Stephen Glover, middleton
21/02/2007 at 23:09
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