Brady challenge over borrowing for congestion charge (From Community Newsgroup)

Brady challenge over borrowing for congestion charge

12:30pm Tuesday 2nd December 2008

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ALTRINCHAM and Sale West MP Graham Brady has challenged ministers in the House of Commons over the amount of borrowing councils are being asked to take on under the Transport Innovation Fund/congestion charge proposals.

The 1.2 billion pound debt will fall on the shoulders of Greater Manchester Councils and, if divided by the 1.9 million electors in Greater Manchester, equates to £625 per adult.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Wednesday last week Mr Brady talked about the cost of the debt and pointed out that repayments would start almost immediately, whereas any revenue from the proposed congestion charge would not be available to help cover the costs for another five years.

In response the Minister for Communities and Local Government, John Healey told Mr Brady that it was a matter for the Greater Manchester Councils.

Speaking later Mr Brady, pictured, said: “It is all very well for the minister to say that the debt is a matter for Greater Manchester councils, but it is the government which has pushed this massive loan onto Greater Manchester, and it is councils and council taxpayers who will have to bear the burden now, even though there’d be no revenue from the congestion charge for at least five years.

“No-one has been allowed to see the figures behind the TIF proposals so we don’t even know if the sums add up. Taking on a debt like this in the present economic climate would be sheer folly.”

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