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‘Denton gets nothing out of £3bn TIF cash’

17/ 9/2008

DENTON councillors have publicly come out against the congestion charge.

At Thursday’s District Assembly meeting, they demanded changes to take account of the outer boundary of the charging zone —the M60 — which splits Denton in two.

Under current plans, parents driving children to school or anyone going to and from work within Denton at peak times would be charged if they cross the motorway.

Councillor Vincent Ricci said: "I’ll be voting no. None of the £3bn in the Transport Investment Fund will be spent in this ward."

Councillor Mike Smith said Mr Gwynne had been instrumental in getting a roadshow to the area to explain the proposals, which was the best attended in the Manchester area.

"Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive is well aware of the concerns the people of Denton have got with regard to this," he said  "A lot of congestion would be solved if Denton station was open to more than one train a week — you can get to Manchester’s Victoria station in 11 minutes."

Councillor Colin White said: "If they leave the ring road (as the congestion charge boundary) where it is, then it’s a no vote from me."

And Councillor Martin Wareing said: "At present Denton is getting very little out of the TIF, but it is a consultation period. We want some of that money to make the A57 into Manchester much more accessible and bigger and better buses.

"The Metrolink will be going to Droylsden but it’s like a ghost town on our side of the conurbation."

He added that both Tameside Labour and Tory groups had voted for the TIF scheme. Councillor Margaret Downs assured the audience: "A lot of work is going on behind the scenes to make sure that we get a fair deal."