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Transport: West MIdlands stalls on congestion charging
West Midlands congestion charging plans are in the balance, it emerged at Tuesday’s Traffic Management Parking 2007 conference in Manchester.
Leaders of seven Greater Birmingham local authorities will not meet for a final decision ‘for another four to six weeks’, said David Bull, Birmingham City Council director of strategy and development.
The delay – suggesting tense behind-the-scenes haggling – could take the decision to within days of the 31 July deadline for the approval of major Transport Innovation Fund projects. A no vote would leave Greater Manchester as the only conurbation with confirmed charging plans.
The West Midlands scheme involves a £4BN transport investment package – 50% before charging and 50% after – with a major emphasis on public transport improvements. This part of the package, admitted Bull, also needs further debate. ‘Lifestyle’ alternatives to charging, such as company travel plans, safe non-car travel to school and car sharing, would cut, at best, one-tenth off the 22% rise in congestion forecast by 2021, he said.
Greater Manchester’s plans have met a hitch, with the £30M visitor Trafford Shopping Centre saying charging is not a price worth paying for a promised 6.5km Metrolink tram extension, for which it has pledged £13M.
