Manchester UK, congestion charge good or bad?

Question

I live on the outskirts of Manchester. I regularly trade in the city center, Stockport and Bury.

I object to the congestion charge in principal because I feel vehicle excise duty and fuel duty should be used to fund and encourage public transport. I believe that the congestion charge is just another national and local goverment tax raiser. consequently I will boycott the areas covered by the charge and Bury because the local MP is one of the main supporters of the charge.

I know other businessmen feel the same and they too will avoid trading in and out of these areas. This will damage the local ecconomy and jobs.

Why can't politicians see the bigger picture? They take millions of pounds from us in fuel and excise duty and don't invest it back into our road or public transport infastructure. They then try to con. us into believing that the congestion charge is to fund public transport. My backside!

Do you agree or disagree and either way what are your reasons

Answer 1

I think that all congestion charges should be dropped as you rightly say excise duty and petrol duty plus vat should go to the upkeep of the roads plus why should people who need to use the city's pay as country dwellers do not.

Answer 2

As has been shown in London a congestion charge does not have anything to do with reducing congestion but has everything to do with s******g yet more money out of the poor motorist. The same applies to council run parking warden schemes. In another context it applies to litter and bin wardens.

Answer 3

its all a con just to tax us more...its like the enviroment tax...its nothing to do with the enviroment... it s just a tax... they need more money .... tax tax tax... that green talk is rubbish ....its all just a tax to get money of us... they earth has been hotter and colder before its nothing to do with us using cars... like car tax .. the money is not spent on the roads ...only 20 per cent is... what is the green tax gonna be spent on?? even 20%??? the have us well stiched up .. the people are stupid...most people beleive it is our duty to pay our taxes... see where thats got us ... they think up more ways to "tax us"... its our duty to pay pay pay... conjestion tax? what s that money spent on?? 20%?? who is fooling who ?? how did they manage 10 years ago when 4 million were unemployed and getting benifit?? 4 million giro s every week about 50 million quid a week... how many getting a giro now? 1 million or less that s gotta be saving 40 million a week there... car tax and petrol was a lot less too... where s it all gone...?? some one s cashing in big time ... but they say the more you get the more you want.. you get greedy... the goverment have it all sewed up,, a cushy job for life ...and a bonus pay off ...and a top pension.. more than i will ever earn a wage a quarter off in a full time job ... when they retire... who is fooling who...???  pay  pay

Answer 4

all charges should be dropped or else use the money towards roads public transport etc,..