Manchester - No to congestion charge

[Bagpuss]

These sort of decisions should never go to public vote. It's like offering people the chance to decide if they pay tax or not.

Missed opportunity to join up the gaps and make a very good transport system. Sad day.

I didn't get to vote myself because I live too far out from the centre, though close enough that it takes me less than an hour to cycle in to town when I do go up there. Or about twenty minutes on the train. It makes me wonder who the hell did vote against it. If you were elligible to vote then you were close enough to walk in to town, near enough.

Not true, My partner goes to visit her mum, who lives just inside the proposed boundary but several miles from town. Why should she pay to cross this imaginary boundary in a not so busy part of town?

This whole scheme is another excuse to create quangos and non-jobs and spend what is left on traffic calming

[TimberWolf]

WHS.

A yes would have meant another £20 for every journey in every town on top of rising fuel duty and massively increasing road taxes.

If you feel so strongly suggest you give all your money away. It will make the world a better place.

That's a commendable altruistic attitude, as millionaires would benefit greatly under this system. They could get to millionaire shops far more quickly, with less hassle, and might even be able to park, all without being suffocated by chaves car exhausts.

[chef]

Next you'll be saying direct income tax should be 90% as we'd all benefit with world class educationa and health care.

It's like no one has learned **** all here over the last 10+ yrs.

Oh Dear ™. CUK land of the stupid and gullible.

i wouldn't be in favour of a direct income tax of 90%

i dont agree with the result from my personal point of view but im happy to accept it as it was overwhelmingly in favour of No and that's the democracy i live in

insulting me with stupid and gullible is unfair i believe, im allowed my vote, i made it and it happened to be the minority vote, that doesn't make me stupid or gullible as my reasons for voting Yes were explained earlier..

just because someone disagrees with your opinion/view doesn't mean there's is any less valid if they can explain why they have that point of view IMO..

[dang65]

A yes would have meant another £20 for every journey in every town on top of rising fuel duty and massively increasing road taxes.

A yes would have provided an upgraded and efficient public transport system which would be a lot cheaper to use than running a car, buying fuel, paying for parking. The only people who would have been penalised by the congestion charge would be those too bone idle to get out of their cars and cycle to work or get a bus or a train. It's incredible how much power those people seem to wield. They must be a tiny percentage of the population of Greater Manchester.

[Turion]

A good sane result. A yes vote would let rip to a patchwork chaos of incompatible charging schemes throughout the country. It would be a return to the tollgates of the 18th Century, but worse, as drivers unfamiliar to an area may only know they should have paid when the £120 penalty (stealth) charge arrives in the post. If the govt wants distance/area charging they must bite the bullet and introduce a national scheme - and put that proposal before the electorate

[DimPrawn]

i wouldn't be in favour of a direct income tax of 90%

i dont agree with the result from my personal point of view but im happy to accept it as it was overwhelmingly in favour of No and that's the democracy i live in

insulting me with stupid and gullible is unfair i believe, im allowed my vote, i made it and it happened to be the minority vote, that doesn't make me stupid or gullible as my reasons for voting Yes were explained earlier..

just because someone disagrees with your opinion/view doesn't mean there's is any less valid if they can explain why they have that point of view IMO..

You know stupid and gullible have been taken out of the dictionary don't you?

Anyway, best let the stupid and gullible do what they do best. Vote Labour.

[dang65]

Not true, My partner goes to visit her mum, who lives just inside the proposed boundary but several miles from town. Why should she pay to cross this imaginary boundary in a not so busy part of town?

If her mum lives just inside the proposed boundary then why not park just outside it an walk? Also, the charge was going to apply to people driving in to town in the morning rush hour and out in the evening rush hour. Would your partner be included in that group? I mean, I go and visit my mum, but not during the week in the rush hour.

[DimPrawn]

A yes would have provided an upgraded and efficient public transport system which would be a lot cheaper to use than running a car, buying fuel, paying for parking. The only people who would have been penalised by the congestion charge would be those too bone idle to get out of their cars and cycle to work or get a bus or a train. It's incredible how much power those people seem to wield. They must be a tiny percentage of the population of Greater Manchester.

Yeah, it would be brilliant. None of it would go on Quangos and civil servants pension pots.



How many morons are there now on CUK?

It's like a magnet for moronic.

[chef]

You know stupid and gullible have been taken out of the dictionary don't you?

Anyway, best let the stupid and gullible do what they do best. Vote Labour.

so now because of my vote in a congestion charge i vote labour?? perhaps you could show me the part of the voting form that stated if you vote yes your a labour supporter.. as far as Im aware they are seperate votes IMO

i have no problem with you not agreeing with my vote, that is why its a vote and not a "lets consult and take DPs viewpoint" referendum, i do have a problem that you resort to childish insults just because you disagree though, it really doesnt suit you

[thelace]

It's a while since I've been to Manchester, however I'm chuffed with the vote.

All the other major cities were waiting with baited breath to follow.

I live 5 miles from Newcastle City Centre and it's nigh on impossible for me to get public transport into town, or of an evening out of town. It takes me 20 minutes to drive in, would take me 90 on three busses to get to where I have to be. That's not even taking into account costs, I have no idea what the relative costs are.

If I want to go into the Toon for a drink, it's a £12 taxi ride each way. My mates from Sunderland pay £2 return on the Metro despite travelling twice as far.

OK city centres are ludicrously overcrowded, but if they sort out the public transport 1st, people would use it as a matter of course....

I would happily pay a couple of quid to travel into town and back, hell I would relish the chance.

Also, there's a Motorway goes right through the town centre, how would that work on charging? It's a through route for goodness sake!

As it is, I have to use the car. I pay my taxes like all other car users. Make the roads better (could be part of this expenditure we'll be paying for that Gordy's set on) and improve the public transport infrastructure, we'll do the rest!