RE: Congestion Commercial Canned
Wednesday 26th November 2008
A public information film backing congestion charging for Manchester and funded by the Department of Transport has been pulled by ITV following complaints of bias.Granada pulled the ad from its planned slot in Saturday’s broadcast of the X Factor, following complaints to the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom that have apparently questioned the film’s impartiality.
Congestion Commercial Canned
Manchester says no to C-Charge promo
The news broke yesterday as ballot papers were being sent to 1.9 million Greater Manchester residents, asking for their vote on controversial proposals that the Association of British Drivers says will cost drivers up to £1200 a year for the privilege of driving to work.
'Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive are desperate to get the scheme through because the government has tied road pricing to badly needed investment in public transport,' says the ABD’s Nigel Humphries. 'They are spending millions on a campaign of disinformation to persuade people their city will grind to a halt without this package… Manchester is seen as a soft target to get a scheme through so it can be imposed more easily in cities such as Leeds and Bristol.'
Manchester’s referendum has already sparked much controversy, with Gordon Brown being sucked into the argument over whether the referendum question itself was misleading. Voters will be asked: 'Do you agree with the Transport Innovation Fund Proposals?' while an accompanying leaflet spells out all the GMTE transport plans, including the proposals for road charging. Brown declared the phrasing had been ‘legally approved’ at PM’s questions last month, in response to allegations that it was partial and biased.
Bus operator Stagecoach has also come under fire in the C-Charge controversy for refusing to accept adverts from Stockport Council, opposed to the Greater Manchester scheme.
Discussion
there's already loads of poster adverts trying to get people to vote yes around the manchester area. Doesn't make a difference to me, I voted no already. The proposed public transport "improvements" are pitiful and don't offer a viable alternative for traveling into Manchester. This is all about raising income for the government and nothing else.
Currently we visit Manchester reasonably regularly to spend our hard-earned money. If a congestion charge is imposed, we won't be going in again anything like as frequently, hence loss of revenue for Manchester businesses.
Manchester doesn't need a congestion charging system, it's yet another tax on the motorist.
Manchester doesn't need a congestion charging system, it's yet another tax on the motorist.
ked up ideaI currently visit Manchester two or three times a week to work there, and spend money during my lunch break. I don't live in Manchester so will have no say on the charge. Everyday I go I get frustrated by the posters quoting selfish people who say they won't be affected by the charge so they are voting yes. I hope they got paid enough to appear in the ads to cover all the extra costs they will find that they incur if the charge goes ahead, or to cover their income when their jobs have gone because no one bothers going to Manchester any more because of the additional cost.
It's all very well saying it doesn't affect me so I will vote yes on this, just think about when something will affect you. Makes my blood boil
Manchester have already created congestion through stupid, pointless, empty bus lanes which reduce road capacity, adding to congestion. Take those out and observe how much better the traffic flow would be. Why should a bus get priority, I have to timetable myself to allow for hold ups, so can they. If the people on the buses were really important they would be paid enough to afford a Car! Spend the public money being misused on propaganda making traffic flow.
It's all very well saying it doesn't affect me so I will vote yes on this, just think about when something will affect you. Makes my blood boil
Manchester have already created congestion through stupid, pointless, empty bus lanes which reduce road capacity, adding to congestion. Take those out and observe how much better the traffic flow would be. Why should a bus get priority, I have to timetable myself to allow for hold ups, so can they. If the people on the buses were really important they would be paid enough to afford a Car! Spend the public money being misused on propaganda making traffic flow.
How many of you thought that the new Le Mans tram system was crap??
If you get something like that, just think of the benefits.
However, trying to make public transport cost effective by taxing private cars out of the way is not the way to do it! IMHO
Too much stick not enough carrot??
So I do hope you vote against it, they can then spend some of my tax money down hear improving the roads of Surrey! Even a blind man knows when he's being driven in Surrey these days!
If you get something like that, just think of the benefits.
However, trying to make public transport cost effective by taxing private cars out of the way is not the way to do it! IMHO
Too much stick not enough carrot??
So I do hope you vote against it, they can then spend some of my tax money down hear improving the roads of Surrey! Even a blind man knows when he's being driven in Surrey these days!
Old Geezer said:
How many of you thought that the new Le Mans tram system was crap??
If you get something like that, just think of the benefits.
I agree with what you are saying there up to a point, but what about the cost of parking a car near an appropriate tram stop? The additional time taken to detour to where there will be an appropriate tram stop? The cost of the tram? If you get something like that, just think of the benefits.
One way or another, if the charge comes in there will be a large increase in cost with very little benefit to those who have no choice but to visit Manchester. Would you consider setting up an office based business within the zone adding costs to all staff if the charge comes in? And if people don't, what happens to all those shops who are reliant upon the income from Manchester workers?
andyps said:
Old Geezer said:
How many of you thought that the new Le Mans tram system was crap??
If you get something like that, just think of the benefits.
I agree with what you are saying there up to a point, but what about the cost of parking a car near an appropriate tram stop? The additional time taken to detour to where there will be an appropriate tram stop? The cost of the tram? If you get something like that, just think of the benefits.
One way or another, if the charge comes in there will be a large increase in cost with very little benefit to those who have no choice but to visit Manchester. Would you consider setting up an office based business within the zone adding costs to all staff if the charge comes in? And if people don't, what happens to all those shops who are reliant upon the income from Manchester workers?
I got the train, 55 mins I was at Victoria! 10 minute walk to consulate.
Might have got 1/3 of the way in the car by then.
NO Stress and my car did not have to suffer stop start all the way. £4 car parking for all day and off peak only £8.50 return. If I worked there, it would cost a lot more, so you need to know the ticket prices before you vote!!
Quite simply it is a no brainer when I want to go into the centre of London.
I don't know Manchester, as I've only been there twice, but a long time ago.
But I wish you all the best, so please look at the details.
Perhaps you could ask for free car parking at the end of the line as a sweetener??
Old Geezer said:
andyps said:
Old Geezer said:
How many of you thought that the new Le Mans tram system was crap??
If you get something like that, just think of the benefits.
I agree with what you are saying there up to a point, but what about the cost of parking a car near an appropriate tram stop? The additional time taken to detour to where there will be an appropriate tram stop? The cost of the tram? If you get something like that, just think of the benefits.
One way or another, if the charge comes in there will be a large increase in cost with very little benefit to those who have no choice but to visit Manchester. Would you consider setting up an office based business within the zone adding costs to all staff if the charge comes in? And if people don't, what happens to all those shops who are reliant upon the income from Manchester workers?
I got the train, 55 mins I was at Victoria! 10 minute walk to consulate.
Might have got 1/3 of the way in the car by then.
NO Stress and my car did not have to suffer stop start all the way. £4 car parking for all day and off peak only £8.50 return. If I worked there, it would cost a lot more, so you need to know the ticket prices before you vote!!
Quite simply it is a no brainer when I want to go into the centre of London.
I don't know Manchester, as I've only been there twice, but a long time ago.
But I wish you all the best, so please look at the details.
Perhaps you could ask for free car parking at the end of the line as a sweetener??
This scheme is/was a joke and wouldn't do anything to cut congestion but then again it wasn't really designed to do that anyway. Just as well it got binned.
I have never once paid the London congestion charge, but it doesn't mean I am not opposed to it.
There has been an ENORMOUS increase in traffic using the South Circular trying to avoid the CC area, and if you have ever had the misfortune of trying to drive through the CC outskirts just as it becomes free at 6pm, you'll know what a disaster area that is as everyone tries desperately to avoid the charge.
It's an utter fiasco, and all the stats that say it has reduced congestion make no mention of the chaos it causes around it.
I sincerely hope that Manchester does not suffer the same fate.
There has been an ENORMOUS increase in traffic using the South Circular trying to avoid the CC area, and if you have ever had the misfortune of trying to drive through the CC outskirts just as it becomes free at 6pm, you'll know what a disaster area that is as everyone tries desperately to avoid the charge.
It's an utter fiasco, and all the stats that say it has reduced congestion make no mention of the chaos it causes around it.
I sincerely hope that Manchester does not suffer the same fate.
Getting the train is all fine and well some of the time, but it's not always practical. The last time I tried to get a train to Reading (from Oxford - my nearest station) just to do some shopping I had to drive to oxford, which took half an hour, then pay to park the car - which you can't do in the car park now, you have to do it in the station unless you sign up for a mobile phone payment account: no thanks! - Which took another 20 minutes (walk from the carpark to the station, stand in a huge queue, walk back, put ticket on car, walk back to station again) then sit on the train for half an hour... getting into reading about an hour and a half after I set off from home, costing me a fiver to park my car, and another 12 quid for the train ticket.
The next time I just drove there. Got there in 45 minutes. Paid a fiver to park the car there. Job done.
If they start spreading this conjestion charging around that's going to be another fiver to drive into Reading, but it'll still be cheaper than getting the damned train, and that's assuming they don't put one on Oxford as well. Of course, the people who came up with this nonsense will tell me to park in the park and ride then I wouldn't have to drive to the station, but since it costs a quid to park there, and another 2 quid for a return ticket to the station, it's not much of a saving now is it?
The next time I just drove there. Got there in 45 minutes. Paid a fiver to park the car there. Job done.
If they start spreading this conjestion charging around that's going to be another fiver to drive into Reading, but it'll still be cheaper than getting the damned train, and that's assuming they don't put one on Oxford as well. Of course, the people who came up with this nonsense will tell me to park in the park and ride then I wouldn't have to drive to the station, but since it costs a quid to park there, and another 2 quid for a return ticket to the station, it's not much of a saving now is it?
Steameh said:
Does this cover the ring roads?
So, for example, if I went to manchester airport to pick up my brother, could I be charged?
There are two rings planned, with higher charges for crossing the inner ring than the outer one. Effectively the outer ring is the M60, the inner ring including the Mancunian way. If you cross inside one you will be charged if the proposal gets the go-ahead. Driving round the M60 and turning off it to go to the airport would not get a charge with the current proposals, but who knows for the future.So, for example, if I went to manchester airport to pick up my brother, could I be charged?
I agree that trains have their place. I have tried using them for my journey to Manchester. I still have to use my car to get to a station from where I can catch a train. My choices are one station where I can park for free, but would have to leave home at 6.10am and probably get back about 7.30pm, the alternative would be a mainline station where parking is £10 for the day, allowing me to have an extra 15 minutes at home in the morning, but getting back at about the same time. For reference, in the car I leave at approximately 7am and get back about 6.30pm so the train just doesn't benefit me either financially or time wise at present.
I hope the people of Manchester don't let the governments bully boy tactics work, this is a shoddy way for Labour to act, "people's party", my a**e !.
Not surprised by Stagecoach's reaction though, fits in nicely with their work ethic, which is similar to Hitler's advance through Poland, though to be fair they do employ a lot of poles.
Not surprised by Stagecoach's reaction though, fits in nicely with their work ethic, which is similar to Hitler's advance through Poland, though to be fair they do employ a lot of poles.
I live near Manchester and am just coming to the end of a 9 month refurb in the heart of the City Centre (Deansgate) and have noticed, when not cycling, that the town fathers of Manchester have taken a leaf out of the delighful Kenneth's book. Lights have been extensively re-phased, with particular emphasis on filters (it seems) to create an illusion of congestion. Now as WE all know (I hope) the great unwashed are apt to be hoodwinked by these smoke and mirror tactics, so it seems only fair that this tendetious propaganda flic was pulled as the audience targeting couldn't have been more pinpoint (X Fuctor, remember?) with US miltary help. Almost appears.........dare I say it? DEMOCRATIC!!
Incidentally the un-herded traffic is never at a TOTAL standstill anyhoo, Sunday morning journey time - 20 mins, average "rush hour" journey time 30-35 mins. The Defence rests!
Incidentally the un-herded traffic is never at a TOTAL standstill anyhoo, Sunday morning journey time - 20 mins, average "rush hour" journey time 30-35 mins. The Defence rests!
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