Hard of Understanding

I had a funny feeling that I was going to get some form of abuse for being anti-congestion charge, and sure enough I've finally got a message berating me for voting "NO."

The abuse came from someone who lives in Rossendale (part of Lancashire) who commutes to Manchester to work.

"This charge would have led to improvements to make my commute to work easier."

No it wouldn't. The plans would have reduced capacity to 100% at 2008's levels. As people moved across to public transport, within 1 year it would be straining under it's own weight again and many would be forced back onto the road, and forced to pay the tax. It was ill conceived, poorly thought out and would have been a diabolical system for our roads.

If the plans had any merit then the outcome could have been different.

"I should have had a vote!"

Why should you? Why should you have the opportunity to meddle in something that has the biggest impact on the residents of Manchester. Suggesting that you have a vote would be like the residents of Stockport deciding how town centre Accrington should look.

The congestion charge part of the TIF (which many were only thinking of when they sent back the forms) directly affected 9 of the 10 Greater Manchester boroughs. To suggest that someone who only visits for work, leisure etc such have as equal a say as the person who actually lives there is simply ludicrous.

I appreciate that the TIF funds may have improved the service from your part of the region into the City Centre, but the negative effects that it would have created in my town, my borough and my county far outweigh the very limited merits that this scheme had. It would literally divided communities and added an unnecessary burden to the residents of Greater Manchester.

So, you'll excuse me if I don't share your views on the TIF plans or referendum, but it was a Manchester issue that Manchester residents voted on.

No, I've not lost my mind. I'm not convinced about the Treasury's, though.

It has been reported that sales of beer (in particular ale) are falling at their fastest rates ever! The industry, like all others, has a group of lobbyists to protect its interests. These good folk are beside themselves with angst.

They are virtually begging the government to take back the 18% rise in duty imposed last year, which has simply added to the woes of an industry that has been suffering under the weight of: Smoking ban (I'm not getting into that here), Utility Costs, Economic Downturn and duty increase after duty increase over many years.

So, 6 pubs a day are closing now, and we are becoming a country of Weatherspoons'. People weren't happy with the thought of big retail chains taking the life out of town centres, but we are complicit with blandness in our watering holes? Right.

The treasury, in their eternal wisdom have offered their reasoning for why there was a 18% rise in duty last year and why it won't be going back on it. And it is.......... child poverty.

Yup, Child Poverty. The drinkers of this nation have come together and now pay an extra 18% for their pint in order to help fight child poverty. I must have missed that referendum.

I'm not saying that fighting child poverty is a bad thing, I think that it is fantastic. I just fail to see the correlation between the drinks industry and child poverty (except in fairly extreme circumstances)

But, judging by the results, this is a plan with flaws. People are now turning to a cheap can of beer in front of EmmerEast Street. Supermarkets (big chains with little to no impact on a local economy) are now raking in the effects of their cheap booze, and your local is losing out. Don't forget that these are people's livelihoods as well, so it isn't just a building with shutters up, it is someone's business in ruins.

When I went ape about the amount I pay to H.M. to keep my car on the road and quizzed why all these taxes were being collected, yet transport in this country is third world, a gobby government bod was quick to point out that our taxes didn't work like that.

Looks like they do now.

I want that pothole outside my front door fixing, tomorrow!