10/07/07 - Conservatives say "Yes to Transport investment but NO to Congestion Charges"

COUNCILLOR John Walsh OBE
Leader of the Conservative Group, Bolton MBC

PRESS RELEASE 

Conservatives say “Yes to Transport investment
but NO to Congestion Charges!" 

Bolton Conservatives want more investment in public transport in Bolton but not funded by congestion charges. That is the clear message to be set out by Conservative Group Leader, Councillor John Walsh at the meeting of the Council on Wednesday 11^th July.

Councillor Walsh will say,

“The plans for Bolton do not go far enough. The current proposals from Greater Manchester merely repeat long standing proposals for a new transport interchange in Bolton. This is not new. It is already included in Bolton’s Transport Plan for 2012. Conservatives want to see and will support much more investment in public transport but above all we do not support congestion charges.”

As well as Bolton’s long awaited bus/rail interchange Conservatives want to see the plans include:

• A new station at Turton with twin tracking of the railway between Bromley Cross and Darwen. This would cost very little in transport terms but would enable more frequent trains between Blackburn, Bolton and Manchester. Parking at Turton would end parking congestion at Bromley Cross.
  
• Improved parking and access at Lostock, Horwich, Blackrod, Westhoughton and Daisy Hill stations in the west of the Borough.

Councillor Walsh will go on to say,

“There has been far too little consultation with councillors and the public kept in the dark for months. As we ask more questions the bid becomes even more obscure. Promised information has not been given to councillors who are expected to make decisions committing tax-payers to another Labour stealth tax. As it stands the Government fund will less than half the bid. The rest will have to be borrowed over 30 years against future income from congestion charges. To say that the package is worth £3billion is a complete charade.

“Only this week council officers have confirmed that the law will have to be changed to do this. What kind of scheme is this? It is a complete scam on the part of Labour councillors and the Government.

“Even in the public consultation leaflet there is confusion. The document shows Bolton as a future congestion charge scheme but this has never been discussed by Bolton councillors. Where will congestion charging end?

“Labour now admits that those quoted in the leaflet are actors so even the claims in the consultation must be questionable.

“Ruth Kelly (MP for Bolton West and Secretary of State for Transport) will have to decide. Does she back public spending on transport in Bolton or is she going to impose congestion charging to fund it?”

“My Deputy, Councillor Bob Allen has discovered some interesting figures. Since Labour came to power motorists have been hammered by Gordon Brown and now pay £50billlion in taxes compared to £31billion in 1997. Every year Scotland gets £30billion in Government grants and latest estimates for the London Olympics are £5billion, yet for public transport in the whole of Greater Manchester, 10 councils and 2.5million people the Government has offered only £1.2billion. It wants Councils to borrow the rest to fund schemes which have already been approved locally.

“It is a complete mess.

“Conservatives support investment and want to see improvements in public transport funded by the Government. We want to see more schemes than those in the draft bid but we do not want and will vigorously oppose congestion charges – yet another Labour stealth tax.”

END

For further information contact Councillor John Walsh OBE

Telephone: 07836 363635 (mobile) / 01204 840188 (home)
Email:  john.walsh@bolton.gov.uk