Press Releases

21 June 2008

Commercial vehicle congestion charge to match that of private cars

HGVs and other commercial vehicles are set to pay the same congestion charge as cars under plans being considered as a part of Greater Manchester's Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) investment package.

Drivers of multi-drop vehicles and other road users who may have to cross the two charging rings repeatedly during peak times will also see the daily charge capped at £10 (at 2007 prices) - regardless of the number of times the rings are crossed.

The proposals, developed following discussions with local businesses, are being presented to the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) leaders on Friday 27 June. They will be put out to formal consultation with the business community and public between July and October.

It is also proposed that cars, and potentially commercial vehicles, entering Trafford Park Industrial Estate could benefit from a 50% reduction on the planned peak-time only congestion charge, until all public transport improvements are in place on the Estate.

GMPTE will shortly begin consultation with business in Trafford Park on proposed transport improvements to the Estate. These will be in place well ahead of 2013, the earliest a charge could be introduced. However, the proposed Metrolink line to Trafford Park will not be completed before late 2016. Until then it is proposed that cars, and potentially commercial vehicles, are granted a 50% discount on the standard charging rates.

It is also being proposed that low income workers could qualify for a 20% discount on the congestion charge and a possible 20% discount on public transport. 

Other proposals include a 100% discount for motorcyclists, Hackney cabs, people attending all-day hospital appointments and blue badge holders.

Lord Peter Smith, Leader of AGMA, said: "Our proposals have always been about limiting the cost of congestion to businesses, not increasing costs. This means both providing a transformed public transport system to get people to work and making sure that commercial vehicles benefit from reduced congestion.

"We have had detailed discussions with businesses that rely on HGV and road deliveries and we are very confident that, if we limit the potential charge on commercial vehicles to the same level as cars, business benefits. The more reliable journey times that a fall in congestion will give, will more than outweigh a potential charge to cross one or two charging rings at peak times."

The plans have been developed after speaking with businesses and conducting local research into the needs of road hauliers and the benefits of reduced journey times, lower operating costs and improved reliability that the TIF package will deliver. The research, undertaken by KPMG, identified the cost of running HGVs in Greater Manchester at between £20 and £30 for every hour that they are on the road.