Government 'bullying' Manchester into accepting road pricing

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The Government has been accused of "bullying" Manchester into charging pay-as-you-drive road tolls after it warned the city will lose £1.5billion in public transport funding unless the city's population accepts the scheme.

By Jon Swaine
Last Updated: 10:27AM GMT 17 Nov 2008

Geoff Hoon, the transport secretary, said that the money for new trains, buses and trams would be withheld unless a majority of people in Manchester vote "yes" in a referendum on the plan, which is to be held next month.

Mr Hoon told The Times: "There is no Plan B. I would not want people to be under any illusion about that."

Asked if Manchester would get any of the money if it voted "no", Mr Hoon said: "None whatsoever. If the vote is 'no', there will be no central government funding. The rules are very clear."

He suggested it would be diverted elsewhere, adding: "There will be plenty of other cities looking to take up the opportunity if Manchester doesn't."

Under the plan, drivers in Manchester would have tags fitted to their vehicles that would trigger payments of up to £5 a day as they passed roadside sensors during peak times.

Graham Stringer, the Labour MP for Manchester Blackley, who sits on the Transport Select Committee, told The Times: "This is last-minute bullying by Mr Hoon. It shows how worried they are about losing."

Nigel Humphries, a spokesman for the Association of British Drivers, said: "The Government is holding a gun to Manchester's head. They know congestion charging is unpopular, but they are trying to introduce it by the back door by picking on a city which has been trying for years to get the money to expand its tram system."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...d-pricing.html