Manchester Congestion Charge "A Tax On Trucks" says RHA

The Road Haulage Association is concerned that Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has given the green light to Greater Manchester’s plans to introduce congestion charging by 2012 with seemingly very little consideration to the road freight sector on which industry in the area is so heavily reliant.

“The government will make 2.8 billion pounds in funding available to Greater Manchester to introduce this scheme which is a significant incentive”, said RHA Northern Regional Director Geoff Dunning.

"Congestion levels are rising at a tremendous rate and of course we encourage passenger traffic to consider alternatives when it comes from getting from ‘A’ to ‘B’. But is is vitally important that the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) realize that road freight cannot be influenced in the same way."

The Manchester scheme will differ from the London congestion charge by only charging drivers travelling with the main flow of traffic into the city between 7am and 9.30am and those travelling out between 4pm and 6.30pm.

Road freight transport is, by its very nature flexible and the ‘free’ times will be of little or no consequence to either the haulier or his customer.

The Association considers that AGMA has failed to recognise the contribution made by couriers and other freight forwarders to the economy of Greater Manchester and any charge will have a direct negative impact on freight deliveries both inside and outside the charging area.

"Hauliers are facing a particularly tough time at the moment and any additional operating costs are totally unacceptable. No mention has been made regarding this vital sector of industry and we are deeply concerned that the decision to impose the tax on lorries is very much an afterthought in their planning", Geoff Dunning concluded.