Association caves in to cabbies’ pressure

Private-hire drivers in Rochdale will be spared Greater Manchester’s congestion charging.

Planners had wanted to exempt from the charge only hackney carriage drivers because they are allowed to use bus lanes — but private-hire drivers had threatened to seek legal advice.

Council leaders at a meeting of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities decided that the drivers will be too powerful a force campaigning for a “no” vote in a forthcoming referendum.

The decision of the leaders to exempt the private-hire drivers will head off a massive row.

Bryan Roland, from the Bury-based National Private-Hire Drivers’ Association, had criticised the plan, pointing out that private-hire cars are exempt under London’s road-pricing scheme.

He claimed that the drivers are already under massive pressure with high prices for fuel and licence fees as well as the credit crunch.

Sir Richard Leese proposed a referendum at the end of the three months consultation period. He was seconded by Susan Williams, leader of Trafford Council which is opposed to congestion charging.

The resolution was passed unanimously and the details are to be discussed next month. The electoral commission is to be asked to appoint an adviser and plans for an opinion poll are likely to be dropped in favour of the referendum.

Sir Richard defended the £3 million cost of the consultation exercise and said it amounted to only 50p a head for the whole of Greater Manchester.

City chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein said: “We have tried to be cost-efficient but we have got obligations to do it properly.”