Toll plan gets slammed

CAMBRIDGE'S proposed road toll scheme has been accused of being badly thought out compared with the system planned for Manchester.

Like Cambridgeshire County Council, Manchester City Council is aiming to bar vehicles from its city centre during certain hours each day.

But the planned charge is lower than the fee of up to £5 proposed for Cambridge - and people driving within the congestion zone will not have to pay, says Coun Stuart Newbold, environment spokesman for the Labour group on Cambridge City Council.

Coun Newbold said: "Manchester's proposals involve a charge of between £1 and £2 for vehicles that enter the zone from 7am to 9.30am, and a charge of between £1 and £2 for vehicles that leave the zone between 4pm and 6.30pm.

"Huge transport improvements, about £3 billion of spending, are envisaged prior to a 2012 start date.

"Unlike Cambridgeshire, there is no charge for driving against congestion flow, and no charge for driving within the zone. Drivers incur a charge if they are travelling in the direction of congestion during the time that congestion is at its peak.

"And before implementation, Manchester is seeking more time to get the transport infrastructure completed."

Coun Newbold said he feared the county council was pursuing "objectives other than addressing congestion".

"Perhaps the promised consultation will provide the answer," he said. "I'm no fan of the status quo. I do not own a car and I like to think I'm environmentally responsible.

Unlike here, the Manchester scheme looks like a well thought through plan aimed purely at tackling congestion."