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COUNCILLOR Alan Godson came out in force against the Toll Tax. Many other local councillors denounced it as part of their election statements.
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Middleton says no

CONGESTION charging has been officially opposed by Middleton Township, with new chairman Councillor Peter Williams branding the plan a potential "huge white elephant".

Councillors unanimously voted for a resolution against the Toll Tax at the Middleton Township meeting last Thursday because of its negative effects for commuters in the area.

Under the proposed scheme, motorists would pay up to £5 a day when driving along the busiest routes at peak time. This would cost a regular city centre commuter more than £1,000 a year.

The resolution reads: "This Township recognises the objections raised in recent weeks to the proposed congestion charging and formally opposes the proposal.

"As a predominantly commuter town that looks to the majority of its employment in Manchester, Middleton councillors can see no benefit to its residents whatever from the proposals to extend public transport out of funds raised on them."

The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) this week revealed it would introduce congestion charging in a bid to gain £3bn from the Government to improve public transport, including buses, trains and Metrolink tram lines, which would not go to Middleton. AGMA will decide in July whether to submit a bid after public consultation.

Cllr Williams, voted back in as Middleton Township chairman at Thursday's meeting, said: "The scheme now goes out to consultation and local people should make their views known to local politicians, MPs and transport leaders, before the first steps down this path leading to Greater Manchester being committed to a huge white elephant."

"The fact is that public transport links do need improving and Metrolink should be extended. Wouldn't it be nice for Metrolink to pass a station at Slattocks and then Mills Hill, instead of some circuitous route via Oldham?

"There will be no improvement in public transport short of building a rail link through Middleton Gardens that could help in any material way. "

Cllr Williams added congestion charging would be a "regressive tax", hitting poorer paid city centre workers the hardest.

Despite a sensational u-turn in policy to oppose the congestion charge in April, Rochdale Council has now backed the proposals.

William Hobhouse, portfolio holder for Highways in Rochdale Cabinet, said the council must ensure comprehensive public transport for Middleton residents is in place before and congestion charging is introduced in 2012.

He said : "What is still clearly of concern is the level of detail behind the bid for 3bn investment and how it affects the 8,000 people in Rochdale Borough travelling into Manchester every day. We must have proper public transport alternatives because otherwise the congestion charging is just an extra tax."

Middleton Township's resolution against the charging will now be put before Rochdale Cabinet and forwarded to Secretary of State for Transport, Douglas Alexander, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, Chief Executive at Rochdale Council Roger Ellis and MPs Jim Dobbin, Graham Stringer, Paul Rowen, Michael Meacher and Phil Woolas.

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