COUNCILLOR John Walsh’s letter (November 25) on the TIF bid (Congestion Charge) is either entirely disingenuous or completely absurd.
He says public transport improvements should be paid for by motoring taxes, road tax, fuel duty, VAT. Two sentences earlier, however, he said these are too high!
In fact, the Government’s contribution to the bid will come from such taxation. But there’s no free lunch! Quite reasonably, as the bid is specific to Greater Manchester, we must also contribute.
Our only means of taxation is the council tax. To replace the input from the congestion charge we would have to increase council tax by up to 30 per cent — that’s about £300 per council tax payer per year.
I think that is unacceptable, so that’s why I believe those who contribute to creating congestion should contribute to enabling its solution. This will include people who drive into Manchester from Preston, Blackburn, Yorkshire, Merseyside, Cheshire and beyond.
Nobody wants to pay more, but we are being offered a remarkable deal that will also bring over 6,000 construction jobs into the region at a time when they are desperately needed.
The Labour Government is offering a serious and substantial opportunity to simultaneously tackle inadequate public transport and congestion and also bring jobs to the region. I give this my wholehearted support and say Yes.
John Walsh and the Conservatives offer nothing. He is the local do- nothing leader of his do-nothing party.
Cllr Laurie Williamson, Labour, Harper G
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