t o s s p o ts

this is just a joke!

Yet another motorist tax. If you believe any of this money will find its way into better public transport you have not lived in this country long.

This scheme must not be imposed on Greater Manchester without a public referendum. We cannot afford not learn from the Edinburgh experience where the council wasted 10m on a scheme which never materialised. There is important evidence from the scheme in London and the botched scheme in Edinburgh which needs to be properly debated and put in the public domain. Evidence shows that congestion charging can have a hugely damaging impact on jobs, small businesses and town centres. We must not sleepwalk into this minefield.

Public Transport is not really good enough for the scene to have any impact. It works in London, because they have the underground to move people around. In Horwich it's difficult to park and Parkway or Blackrod after about 8am, so a train to Manchester is out - As far as I know there is no bus from Horwich to Manchester, If I had to go into Bolton by bus and then Manchester by bus it would take ages.

Just more ways to take more money off us,ithink we are taxed more than enough,and of course they dont take into concideration that people are paid different amounts,low paid workers will just find it impossible to be able to afford to go to work ,it really is a joke,but not laughable.Some one sitting in a office on good money has just thought of another way to rip people off.

It's all well and good making these charges but they need to seriously look at improving the public transport to stop people using the cars. Public transport is so un reliable especially the buses. No wonder people drive to work!!

I've experienced the London system and it really does work. But in a relatively small place like Bolton with poor and expensive public transport it would just make people abandon the town centre even more for the out of town shopping centres.

Traffic is terrible in our town and getting worse but without cheap, frequent and efficient public transport a congestion charge in Bolton would just further destroy the town centre and its shops.

I commute from Farnworth to Fallowfield using public transport each day (bus-train-bus).
Before we can even think about introducing road pricing we need a fully regulated comprehensive public transport system in place with all modes through-ticketing available. If there is no viable provision of an alternative to private transport for many people then congestion charging would appear unfair to me even though it would not directly affect me.

TIME FOR A RANT!
God this country really does stink! TAX IT is all the government & the councils talk about to solve any problem. I even saw on TV that they are thinking of taxing certain foods which they say are bad for us. So if it’s bad it seems to be a licence to print Money for the government.
Well you have had enough of my money! Which to be honest you have done sod all with to improve our region; the roads are knackered full of pot holes, the Police don’t exist, Hospitals & the NHS are on the demise fast, Schools are failing, what have you done with all our Money? Billions of pounds spent bombing other country’s, fighting other people’s wars. Use this money to sort out our country & Start showing people that the infrastructure that has been neglected over many many years by successive governments “blue and red” is being fixed, before you tax people out of going to work £8 a day to travel to Manchester, in my car (£2000 per year). On top of fuel tax & road tax, I already pay. You’re having a laugh!! I might as well give up work and jump on social security; which I have never done in my life! It does seem your better off these days not bothering! It’s cheaper. Trying to pay your own way in this country is leaving yourselves open as an easy touch for the Council/Government to take more money from you. Talk about the Sheriff of Nottingham! I think he lives and walks amongst the corridors of Government today! Only we don’t have a Robin Hood to defend us!
As for our fantastic public transport if you can travel on it without getting mugged;
The bus service is a joke, The 516 from Leigh to Horwich & middlebrook is running on the same timetable that it was doing in the 1970s even though the population has exploded along that route. & Retail Park has been built with a football stadium included. Oxford road in Manchester is the busiest bus route in Europe; it’s a war zone with private bus companies at each others throats for the same route, lines of empty double deckers causing more congestion than any other vehicle on the road.
The Manchester tram line extension was stopped by the government last year AFTER millions was spent in compulsory purchasing & demolishing property around Ashton to make way for the tram lines.
The tram service has been proven a success, but then the tram has been rejected for Bolton & Wigan as we are seen to have a train service that links us into Manchester, have you ever tried getting a seat on those trains in rush hour! Two carriages in rush hour! What a joke.
How will the governments police this, when they can’t even police road tax dodgers & car Insurance Dodgers? Remember the pole tax riots that Thatcher caused, I think we might be heading for those days again. One final point does anyone think the French would put up with this from there government?

Do GMPTE have the remit to discuss this?If brought in, it will be the last nail in the coffin of Bolton Town Centre.

At least Dick Turpin had the common decency to wear a mask when he robbed people and at least he confronted his victims directly!

Once again, the tax-payer is being hit more to pay the Government's innefficiency, ineptitude and incompetence. If they spent taxpayer's money appropriately, such as keeping roads in a good state of repair in the first place, much of the congestion will be releived. Sadly this Government is more intent on sending our hard-earned tax money anywhere abroad, and not spending enough in this country.

We need to change things - think about your vote. Get 'New Labour' out before we all end up bankrupt.

I think its a good thing. If you cant afford it, then dont come in to town by car. At least it will keep the tinpot cars out of my way in the morning. they Should double the price for commercial vehicles as well. Make your deliveries at night and not during my trip to work. Bring it on !! As i DONT DO PUBLIC TRANSPORT, I wont be surrounded by all the more drop outs that use it now !

At last Bolton have got the right idea, now when I am out driving in my SLK I will be able to drive freely woth those idiot in poor cars getting in my way. Well done Bolton on helping out the rich again!

What an absolute joke. There are only congestion problems when there’s roadwork’s. If the council used their heads and stopped trying to think of more and more stupid ways to rob the public of their hard-earned cash then they would put in place a reliable, good value public transport system. If there was a bus and rail network available that didn’t cost an arm and a leg then the traffic travelling into town would probably half. Why not make all council staff use public transport for a week and then survey their opinions??

Just this broken town council jumping on the tax bandwagon. Instead of taxing easy targets to fund it's loss making schemes, why dont the council look to re populate the town centre with shop offering worthwhile goods, and notjust pound shops. The centre is dying on it's feet. The revenue from rent etc would then more than offset the shortfall.
Get real in providing an integrated passenger transport system, and stop playing at it. Who is going to foot the bill for any tracking system in MY car ? not me for sure !

Dunny wrote:
At last Bolton have got the right idea, now when I am out driving in my SLK I will be able to drive freely woth those idiot in poor cars getting in my way. Well done Bolton on helping out the rich again!

KNOBHEAD!!!

The government's proposal to introduce road pricing will mean you having to purchase a tracking device for your car and paying a monthly bill to use it.

The tracking device will cost about £200 and in a recent study by the BBC, the lowest monthly bill was £28 for a rural florist and £194 for a delivery driver. A non working Mum who used the car to take the kids to school paid £86 in one month. On top of this massive increase in tax, you will be tracked. Somebody will know where you are at all times. Theywill also know how fast you have been going, so even if you accidentally creep over a speed limit you can expect a NIP with your monthly bill.

If youcare about our freedoms and stopping the constant bashing of the car driver, please sign the petition on No 10's new website http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/traveltax Please pass this on to anyone who owns a car/motorcycle. It affects them.

Wandering Walter wrote:
The government's proposal to introduce road pricing will mean you having to purchase a tracking device for your car and paying a monthly bill to use it. The tracking device will cost about £200 and in a recent study by the BBC, the lowest monthly bill was £28 for a rural florist and £194 for a delivery driver. A non working Mum who used the car to take the kids to school paid £86 in one month. On top of this massive increase in tax, you will be tracked. Somebody will know where you are at all times. Theywill also know how fast you have been going, so even if you accidentally creep over a speed limit you can expect a NIP with your monthly bill. If youcare about our freedoms and stopping the constant bashing of the car driver, please sign the petition on No 10's new website http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/traveltax Please pass this on to anyone who owns a car/motorcycle. It affects them.

KNOBHEAD

Steve in his rant eneded by saying "One final point does anyone think the French would put up with this from there (sic) government?"

Actually, Steve, they do! The French do have a great rail system, it's well known. But they also have very high tolls on nearly all of their motorways. I drove from Calais to the Mont Blanc tunnel last year and it cost me well over £50 in tolls.

I have a better idea. Why doesn't the government stop us all being paid for work at all. Instead, we all work for free, the government gets all our wages, and gives us vouchers for essentials such as food, clothing, heat, shelter, etc.

That way none of us will have money to spend on non-essentials, and the government will have all that money to spend on what it thinks we really need!

Does our Government still have access to any nukes? Maybe they should just nuke the entire nations and be done with it. That's about the only way they could do MORE damage than they are already.

This Government is continuing to build Rip-Off Britain. Vote for change.

To 'Michelle' and 'I Live Tax'. I don't think you've fully grasped the concept of this forum. You are meant to engage in meaningful discussion. You don't need to come along and describe yourselves. OK?

is there more than one road in bolton

So who's going to pay to visit Boltons all new clone of every other shopping centre once the Market Hall refurb is finished. Also as I work near Chester I'll have to pack in work and join the dole as I travel along 4 of the 5 roads mentioned in the report - plus all the other traffic hotspots on the way. Bolton Town Centre will end up like Harwood Precinct was.

Regardless of the **** and moan - it's still going to happen.

Time to emigrate!

It's time that the people in this land woke up. What is needed is, a show of "civil disobedience" or a "general strike" against the government and councils. Rip off Britain, the Great went out years ago.

Im so fed up of this **** hole country - i am moving abroad in the first part of this year - and i cant wait to get out of here! Im only 24 and im so bitter about the way this country is run. The fact of the matter is, there are too many people in this country, and as long as the idiots that run it keep letting them in by the thousands, we will never see the end of the problem. another thing, lets all take the bus, and see how long it takes for the government to realise they are losing billions on fuel tax and road tax - bunch of clowns!

Dunny wrote:
At last Bolton have got the right idea, now when I am out driving in my SLK I will be able to drive freely woth those idiot in poor cars getting in my way. Well done Bolton on helping out the rich again!

What a complete wanker!

Kate wrote:

Dunny wrote: At last Bolton have got the right idea, now when I am out driving in my SLK I will be able to drive freely woth those idiot in poor cars getting in my way. Well done Bolton on helping out the rich again!

What a complete wanker!

typical woman !!! get a decent car !!

WHAT ABOUT TAX RELIEF INCENTIVES FOR CYCLISTS??!!

Graham wrote:
WHAT ABOUT TAX RELIEF INCENTIVES FOR CYCLISTS??!!

Shut up Graham.You ride a bike you should be taxed more, it's reasons like you that us drivers get taxed so much, you cause accidents all the time and us drivers have to pay.Get a life and a car moron!

DUNNY- Sort out your English, you Mong

So cyclists are now complaiing. Good old Labour should put a tax on these cyclists who think its thier right to ride anywhere on the roads, pull out when they want. They think they should be there, when in fact the road is for cars, no stupid **** cyclists. They cause so many accidents and its the driver of the car then gets done.
And as for those cycle lanes, sod it, I drive in them. The road is for me and my BMW.

steve wrote:
TIME FOR A RANT! God this country really does stink! TAX IT is all the government & the councils talk about to solve any problem. I even saw on TV that they are thinking of taxing certain foods which they say are bad for us. So if it’s bad it seems to be a licence to print Money for the government. Well you have had enough of my money! Which to be honest you have done sod all with to improve our region; the roads are knackered full of pot holes, the Police don’t exist, Hospitals & the NHS are on the demise fast, Schools are failing, what have you done with all our Money? Billions of pounds spent bombing other country’s, fighting other people’s wars. Use this money to sort out our country & Start showing people that the infrastructure that has been neglected over many many years by successive governments “blue and red” is being fixed, before you tax people out of going to work £8 a day to travel to Manchester, in my car (£2000 per year). On top of fuel tax & road tax, I already pay. You’re having a laugh!! I might as well give up work and jump on social security; which I have never done in my life! It does seem your better off these days not bothering! It’s cheaper. Trying to pay your own way in this country is leaving yourselves open as an easy touch for the Council/Government to take more money from you. Talk about the Sheriff of Nottingham! I think he lives and walks amongst the corridors of Government today! Only we don’t have a Robin Hood to defend us! As for our fantastic public transport if you can travel on it without getting mugged; The bus service is a joke, The 516 from Leigh to Horwich & middlebrook is running on the same timetable that it was doing in the 1970s even though the population has exploded along that route. & Retail Park has been built with a football stadium included. Oxford road in Manchester is the busiest bus route in Europe; it’s a war zone with private bus companies at each others throats for the same route, lines of empty double deckers causing more congestion than any other vehicle on the road. The Manchester tram line extension was stopped by the government last year AFTER millions was spent in compulsory purchasing & demolishing property around Ashton to make way for the tram lines. The tram service has been proven a success, but then the tram has been rejected for Bolton & Wigan as we are seen to have a train service that links us into Manchester, have you ever tried getting a seat on those trains in rush hour! Two carriages in rush hour! What a joke. How will the governments police this, when they can’t even police road tax dodgers & car Insurance Dodgers? Remember the pole tax riots that Thatcher caused, I think we might be heading for those days again. One final point does anyone think the French would put up with this from there government?

The only trouble with your rant Steve is that people won't read beyond the first few lines where you start going off the sense radar ('the police don't exist'). Where would you prefer to live? Utopia is a fantasy.

Simon wrote:

Kate wrote:

Dunny wrote: At last Bolton have got the right idea, now when I am out driving in my SLK I will be able to drive freely woth those idiot in poor cars getting in my way. Well done Bolton on helping out the rich again!

What a complete wanker!

typical woman !!! get a decent car !!

I have a decent car thankyou very much simon you arogant B*****d! Typical man agreeing with a **** comment from another pig headed man!

Kate wrote:

Simon wrote:

Kate wrote:

Dunny wrote: At last Bolton have got the right idea, now when I am out driving in my SLK I will be able to drive freely woth those idiot in poor cars getting in my way. Well done Bolton on helping out the rich again!

What a complete wanker!

typical woman !!! get a decent car !!

I have a decent car thankyou very much simon you arogant B*****d! Typical man agreeing with a **** comment from another pig headed man!

Listen Love, A pink car isn't nice, it's rubbish. You only like cause it has a big mirror for you to apply you make-up!

Blimey, listen to the gob on her. I doubt its yours love !!

Dunny wrote:

Kate wrote:

Simon wrote:

Kate wrote:

Dunny wrote: At last Bolton have got the right idea, now when I am out driving in my SLK I will be able to drive freely woth those idiot in poor cars getting in my way. Well done Bolton on helping out the rich again!

What a complete wanker!

typical woman !!! get a decent car !!

I have a decent car thankyou very much simon you arogant B*****d! Typical man agreeing with a **** comment from another pig headed man!

Listen Love, A pink car isn't nice, it's rubbish. You only like cause it has a big mirror for you to apply you make-up!

Who said anything about a pink car??? you obviously cant read. And obviously have too much time on your hands to keep posting silly little messgaes on this site and pretending you have a BMW!! Have fun!

It's Simon who has the BMW (and I can't read) I have the SLK. If you get an education darling then you will be able to afford a better car!

Bloody ****, I've not even graduated yet and i KNOW i'm going to be f**ked over as soon as I hop into full time employment.

**** this country. I'm building a large ship and emigrating. Anyone with me?

Tommy wrote:
Bloody ****, I've not even graduated yet and i KNOW i'm going to be f**ked over as soon as I hop into full time employment. **** this country. I'm building a large ship and emigrating. Anyone with me?

Yeah, Kate!

Dunny wrote:
It's Simon who has the BMW (and I can't read) I have the SLK. If you get an education darling then you will be able to afford a better car!

I like it how you keep talking about a better car, im quite happy with the car i have thankyou its a TT .And please dont patronise me by calling me darling your not talking to some silly school girl im a 28yr old professional with a good job so i dont need any education either thanks. The difference between us is i dont need to keep dropping the name of my car into the conversation. The problem with men is they think women are attracted to them is they have a flash car, all that does is disguise what they lack in other areas!!!!!

Steve's rant is pretty much spot on (apart from the grammar and spelling of course). Anyone that thinks most working people can get from their front door to their office etc purely by public transport is gravely deluded. And what about visiting friends/shopping/even - gasp - indulging in the simple pleasure of a nice drive in the country every now and again (and for those of us who live on or next to the so-called arterial routes, there's no choice but to use them for at least part of any journey anywhere). The London-based metropolitan clique who think congestion charging works live very different lives from the rest of us - neither Bolton nor Manchester is remotely comparable to the way people live in London. What this plan does bring to mind is the way, not even 100 years ago, that most workers lived in endless rows of terraced housing all within easy walking distance of the factory where they worked. No need for a car, let alone a bus, then. What a delightful prospect that would be in the 21st century - not!

The poster who complained about his £50 toll bill for driving from Calais to Mont Blanc surely cannot be serious - given the distance involved that's a bargain compared to the M6 toll road stretch. Anyone who has been on the French or indeed Spanish motorways knows how wonderful they are compared to ours and the tolls are a very small price to pay for that freedom and ease of driving. But the point is that no-one has to pay the tolls - there are plenty of other roads instead. Give me a decent public transport system and every now and again I might choose to use it. But barely-disguised attempts to influence our behaviour by the threat of financial sanction is Stalinist lunacy.

Kate wrote:

Dunny wrote: It's Simon who has the BMW (and I can't read) I have the SLK. If you get an education darling then you will be able to afford a better car!

I like it how you keep talking about a better car, im quite happy with the car i have thankyou its a TT .And please dont patronise me by calling me darling your not talking to some silly school girl im a 28yr old professional with a good job so i dont need any education either thanks. The difference between us is i dont need to keep dropping the name of my car into the conversation. The problem with men is they think women are attracted to them is they have a flash car, all that does is disguise what they lack in other areas!!!!!

28,good job, Audi TT. Nice, fancy a date?

Dunny wrote:

Kate wrote:

Dunny wrote: It\'s Simon who has the BMW (and I can\'t read) I have the SLK. If you get an education darling then you will be able to afford a better car!

I like it how you keep talking about a better car, im quite happy with the car i have thankyou its a TT .And please dont patronise me by calling me darling your not talking to some silly school girl im a 28yr old professional with a good job so i dont need any education either thanks. The difference between us is i dont need to keep dropping the name of my car into the conversation. The problem with men is they think women are attracted to them is they have a flash car, all that does is disguise what they lack in other areas!!!!!

28,good job, Audi TT. Nice, fancy a date?

No Thanks, Im spoken for.

Motorists pay enough already without also being charged for getting to work. If people are expected to use public transport the rail and bus services need to drastically improve!! I catch the train every morning to Manchester from Bolton and it is always packed, you are unable to get a seat and they are hardly ever on time and then they have the audacity to put up prices!!

Kate wrote:

Dunny wrote:

Kate wrote:

Dunny wrote: It\'s Simon who has the BMW (and I can\'t read) I have the SLK. If you get an education darling then you will be able to afford a better car!

I like it how you keep talking about a better car, im quite happy with the car i have thankyou its a TT .And please dont patronise me by calling me darling your not talking to some silly school girl im a 28yr old professional with a good job so i dont need any education either thanks. The difference between us is i dont need to keep dropping the name of my car into the conversation. The problem with men is they think women are attracted to them is they have a flash car, all that does is disguise what they lack in other areas!!!!!

28,good job, Audi TT. Nice, fancy a date?

No Thanks, Im spoken for.

Out of interest, what car does you better half drive?

Michelle wrote:

Dunny wrote: At last Bolton have got the right idea, now when I am out driving in my SLK I will be able to drive freely woth those idiot in poor cars getting in my way. Well done Bolton on helping out the rich again!

KNOBHEAD!!!

Agree!

Dunny wrote:

Kate wrote:

Dunny wrote:

Kate wrote:

Dunny wrote: It\\\\\\\'s Simon who has the BMW (and I can\\\\\\\'t read) I have the SLK. If you get an education darling then you will be able to afford a better car!

I like it how you keep talking about a better car, im quite happy with the car i have thankyou its a TT .And please dont patronise me by calling me darling your not talking to some silly school girl im a 28yr old professional with a good job so i dont need any education either thanks. The difference between us is i dont need to keep dropping the name of my car into the conversation. The problem with men is they think women are attracted to them is they have a flash car, all that does is disguise what they lack in other areas!!!!!

28,good job, Audi TT. Nice, fancy a date?

No Thanks, Im spoken for.

Out of interest, what car does you better half drive?

A New Golf GTI. Your nosey arnt you!

Dunny wrote:

Kate wrote:

Dunny wrote:

Kate wrote:

Dunny wrote: It\'s Simon who has the BMW (and I can\'t read) I have the SLK. If you get an education darling then you will be able to afford a better car!

I like it how you keep talking about a better car, im quite happy with the car i have thankyou its a TT .And please dont patronise me by calling me darling your not talking to some silly school girl im a 28yr old professional with a good job so i dont need any education either thanks. The difference between us is i dont need to keep dropping the name of my car into the conversation. The problem with men is they think women are attracted to them is they have a flash car, all that does is disguise what they lack in other areas!!!!!

28,good job, Audi TT. Nice, fancy a date?

No Thanks, Im spoken for.

Out of interest, what car does you better half drive?

She sounds like a Golddigger to me!

kate wrote:

Dunny wrote:

Kate wrote:

Dunny wrote:

Kate wrote:

Dunny wrote: It\\\\\\\'s Simon who has the BMW (and I can\\\\\\\'t read) I have the SLK. If you get an education darling then you will be able to afford a better car!

I like it how you keep talking about a better car, im quite happy with the car i have thankyou its a TT .And please dont patronise me by calling me darling your not talking to some silly school girl im a 28yr old professional with a good job so i dont need any education either thanks. The difference between us is i dont need to keep dropping the name of my car into the conversation. The problem with men is they think women are attracted to them is they have a flash car, all that does is disguise what they lack in other areas!!!!!

28,good job, Audi TT. Nice, fancy a date?

No Thanks, Im spoken for.

Out of interest, what car does you better half drive?

A New Golf GTI. Your nosey arnt you!

Your warming to me though!

Correct wrote:

Michelle wrote:

Dunny wrote: At last Bolton have got the right idea, now when I am out driving in my SLK I will be able to drive freely woth those idiot in poor cars getting in my way. Well done Bolton on helping out the rich again!

KNOBHEAD!!!

Agree!

Disagree!

OldBoltonian wrote:
Steve's rant is pretty much spot on (apart from the grammar and spelling of course). Anyone that thinks most working people can get from their front door to their office etc purely by public transport is gravely deluded. And what about visiting friends/shopping/even - gasp - indulging in the simple pleasure of a nice drive in the country every now and again (and for those of us who live on or next to the so-called arterial routes, there's no choice but to use them for at least part of any journey anywhere). The London-based metropolitan clique who think congestion charging works live very different lives from the rest of us - neither Bolton nor Manchester is remotely comparable to the way people live in London. What this plan does bring to mind is the way, not even 100 years ago, that most workers lived in endless rows of terraced housing all within easy walking distance of the factory where they worked. No need for a car, let alone a bus, then. What a delightful prospect that would be in the 21st century - not! The poster who complained about his £50 toll bill for driving from Calais to Mont Blanc surely cannot be serious - given the distance involved that's a bargain compared to the M6 toll road stretch. Anyone who has been on the French or indeed Spanish motorways knows how wonderful they are compared to ours and the tolls are a very small price to pay for that freedom and ease of driving. But the point is that no-one has to pay the tolls - there are plenty of other roads instead. Give me a decent public transport system and every now and again I might choose to use it. But barely-disguised attempts to influence our behaviour by the threat of financial sanction is Stalinist lunacy.

Rants don’t usually contain much grammar and spelling! As they are Rants; Typing has never been my strong point!
We all can’t be perfect like you; I presume that you must be as you are quick to pull up others, on minor issues when the topic is the debate and not the written work, what are you an old headmaster! Get a life

What a joke, we've no Metrolink (and nothing planned), and yet the politicians decide that WE should pay even more money out of our over-taxed wages. This country is a shambles, the only potion is to emigrate as the powers-that-be haven't a clue what the public want or need. I'm sure David Crausby will attend the meetings and do as he is told. How can we WASTE billions on fighting some phoney war in Iraq, and then continue to tax & tax & tax the common person on the street? Our political leaders are scum.

Another reason to scrap the GMPTE and for Bolton to become a self-standing county borough again! The GMPTE actually has no powers to impose this sort of thing - Bolton is the highways authority. This is a Manchester problem, but of course that city would not envisage having charges on its roads without the same being imposed on the competition.

Whilst the partial (in both senses) GMPTE exists, Bolton will never get the transport network it needs and deserves.

Bolton councillors of all parties should start lobbying for something with both a wider remit - so that truly regional priorities can be addressed, such as poor rail links adn integration - but which at the same time allows the real local authorities such as Bolton more control over everyday services -a combination they manage perfectly well in Germany.

Steve - I was agreeeing with 98% of what you wrote - I coudl hardly say it was all spot on when a little bit of it wasn't could I? At least your post had far more relevance to the debate than the frankly strange indented ping pong between car drivers with BMW envy....

Marco wrote:

steve wrote: TIME FOR A RANT! God this country really does stink! TAX IT is all the government & the councils talk about to solve any problem. I even saw on TV that they are thinking of taxing certain foods which they say are bad for us. So if it’s bad it seems to be a licence to print Money for the government. Well you have had enough of my money! Which to be honest you have done sod all with to improve our region; the roads are knackered full of pot holes, the Police don’t exist, Hospitals & the NHS are on the demise fast, Schools are failing, what have you done with all our Money? Billions of pounds spent bombing other country’s, fighting other people’s wars. Use this money to sort out our country & Start showing people that the infrastructure that has been neglected over many many years by successive governments “blue and red” is being fixed, before you tax people out of going to work £8 a day to travel to Manchester, in my car (£2000 per year). On top of fuel tax & road tax, I already pay. You’re having a laugh!! I might as well give up work and jump on social security; which I have never done in my life! It does seem your better off these days not bothering! It’s cheaper. Trying to pay your own way in this country is leaving yourselves open as an easy touch for the Council/Government to take more money from you. Talk about the Sheriff of Nottingham! I think he lives and walks amongst the corridors of Government today! Only we don’t have a Robin Hood to defend us! As for our fantastic public transport if you can travel on it without getting mugged; The bus service is a joke, The 516 from Leigh to Horwich & middlebrook is running on the same timetable that it was doing in the 1970s even though the population has exploded along that route. & Retail Park has been built with a football stadium included. Oxford road in Manchester is the busiest bus route in Europe; it’s a war zone with private bus companies at each others throats for the same route, lines of empty double deckers causing more congestion than any other vehicle on the road. The Manchester tram line extension was stopped by the government last year AFTER millions was spent in compulsory purchasing & demolishing property around Ashton to make way for the tram lines. The tram service has been proven a success, but then the tram has been rejected for Bolton & Wigan as we are seen to have a train service that links us into Manchester, have you ever tried getting a seat on those trains in rush hour! Two carriages in rush hour! What a joke. How will the governments police this, when they can’t even police road tax dodgers & car Insurance Dodgers? Remember the pole tax riots that Thatcher caused, I think we might be heading for those days again. One final point does anyone think the French would put up with this from there government?

The only trouble with your rant Steve is that people won\'t read beyond the first few lines where you start going off the sense radar (\'the police don\'t exist\'). Where would you prefer to live? Utopia is a fantasy.

Have you ever tried getting hold of a policeman when you need one?
No Marco not Utopia Bolton will do, but I would like to live in a place where I can see the taxes that I have taken from me used for the benefit of everyone, not just used to line the pockets of the treasury. All these people do is look at a problem as a money making exercise! it was only a couple of weeks ago we where all talking about taxing our rubbish bins. TAX the answer to the world’s problems! It’s ****.

Dunny wrote:

Kate wrote:

Simon wrote:

Kate wrote:

Dunny wrote: At last Bolton have got the right idea, now when I am out driving in my SLK I will be able to drive freely woth those idiot in poor cars getting in my way. Well done Bolton on helping out the rich again!

What a complete wanker!

typical woman !!! get a decent car !!

I have a decent car thankyou very much simon you arogant B*****d! Typical man agreeing with a **** comment from another pig headed man!

Listen Love, A pink car isn't nice, it's rubbish. You only like cause it has a big mirror for you to apply you make-up!

Excuse me, pink cars rule and Kate is gorgeous.. okay I've never met her but meh.

Anywho as for this tax sounds like the Bolton Evening News scaremongering to me. I doubt it's going to happen round here any time soon so get on down and boogie to the 80s funk... Thank you please..

Do they want to kill the town altogether?

Why don't we vote these idiots out?

Have they asked the electoate what they think?

To the council in Bolton -
DON'T DO IT! Don't belive the rubbish in the London Con Charge statistics. I regualrly have to work in London within the Con Charge area and it hasn't reduced congestion in the slightest. It's just a tax and one of the biggest cons ever. Say 'NO!' to a con charge in Bolton - it's just a CON.

What do you think they put all those single lanes in on moss bank way bur road and manchester road for?

To CREATE the congestion they now wan tto charge you for.


I tried to warn people of this years ago when all the traffic islands were going in on bury road. most people just said well that wont happen in Bolton

Wake up and smeel the coffee. You voted for them so you get what you deserve.

Oh and forgot to mention

Bus lanes on dean road/Mcr road/Town centre

Stupid right hand turn only lanes right next to bus stops (chorley new road)

Newly design traffic lights on crompton way/thicketford road with one single lane (reduced from two) and 1 right hand only turn

Wll these measures are to help build congestion so you can then get taxed on it..

Well done the general public for not seeing this years ago and voting the numpties back in.

Joe Bloggs wrote:
Regardless of the **** and moan - it's still going to happen.

Time to emigrate!

Theres a waiting list.

THIS WILL BE ABOUT AS POPULAR AS THE POLL TAX. DO THE GOVERNMENT & COUNCILS WANT RIOTS ON THEIR HANDS?? WHO PAYS FOR THE STREETS ANYWAY??

When they can guarantee a bus every 10 minutes from Eagley Way - which is clean, reliable with well behaved school kids I would seriously consider leaving the car at home. Apart from saving the tax it would help the planet. Oh I nearly forgot - most bus drivers are ok but it should be a condition that they don't think they are tin gods. Also decent bus shelters with sides would be nice .....

Basically you will be taxed for where you live!! Isn't that what the council tax is??? GRRRR

William wrote:
Do GMPTE have the remit to discuss this?If brought in, it will be the last nail in the coffin of Bolton Town Centre.

I agree with this comment - you will kill the town centre off completely if you introduce congestion charges. I catch the buss from Westhoughton and frequently have to wait up to 30 minutes for a bus that is supposed to run every 8 minutes. Plus with recent incresases in fares it is getting very expensive for me to travel this way.

John Edwards wrote:
It's time that the people in this land woke up. What is needed is, a show of "civil disobedience" or a "general strike" against the government and councils. Rip off Britain, the Great went out years ago.

You could go to Australia where all the new motorways are toll roads and where a London style congestion charge is to be adopted in Sydney and Melbourne. You could go to France, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, the USA or dozens of other countries where they also have a lot of toll roads. Can no-one understand that we can't just go on putting more and more cars on the road, clogging up our towns and cities and ruining everyone's environment. SOMETHING must be done. Why don't all you moaners come up with some better ideas?

It seems everone is slagging off every poster on this comments.

We might as well mention Muslims will complain and won't have to pay, or Jews, illegal immigrants whoever...
To be honest, There's too many cars on the road these days anyway..Are UK people going to end up like americans..Fat Burger eating Couch potatoes?

This government can kiss my pert manc botty cheeks if they think i will pay a congestion tax!

Perhaps they should fix the roads first. If I had to pay to travel on a particular road, and it was full of potholes, I'd want my money back.

Simon Taylor wrote:
I think its a good thing. If you cant afford it, then dont come in to town by car. At least it will keep the tinpot cars out of my way in the morning. they Should double the price for commercial vehicles as well. Make your deliveries at night and not during my trip to work. Bring it on !! As i DONT DO PUBLIC TRANSPORT, I wont be surrounded by all the more drop outs that use it now !

this is exactly why taxes like congestion charging are totally unfair. clearly simon can afford to pay this extra tax and has probably already worked out how he will pass it on to his clients or customers. i'd guess that simon is in the legal profession or can claim the charge on his expenses.
if you really want to improve town centre congestion try doing some "joined-up" thinking, ban EVERY vehicle (including taxi & private hire vehicles!), except for overnight deliveries, then provide frequent free park and ride services from at least 4 or 5 points around the centre.

Thoughtful Bolton wrote:
I've experienced the London system and it really does work. But in a relatively small place like Bolton with poor and expensive public transport it would just make people abandon the town centre even more for the out of town shopping centres.

Traffic is terrible in our town and getting worse but without cheap, frequent and efficient public transport a congestion charge in Bolton would just further destroy the town centre and its shops.

the london congestion charge works? by what criteria do you come to that conclusion? traffic is now almost at the same level there as it was before the TAX was introduced. a huge percentage of the charge goes in administering it. where is the improvement?
what really did work was "red ken's" 10p to go anywhere on the tube. however, that system didn't make huge profits for Capita (and soon IBM).

ted holden wrote:
Do they want to kill the town altogether?

Why don't we vote these idiots out?

Have they asked the electoate what they think?

vote them out?
do you really think that the tories are telling the truth about being against this extra tax? or the lib dems?
every political party wants as much money as possible to spend and every new tax is sent by god.

ian upton wrote:
Oh and forgot to mention

Bus lanes on dean road/Mcr road/Town centre

Stupid right hand turn only lanes right next to bus stops (chorley new road)

Newly design traffic lights on crompton way/thicketford road with one single lane (reduced from two) and 1 right hand only turn

Wll these measures are to help build congestion so you can then get taxed on it..

Well done the general public for not seeing this years ago and voting the numpties back in.

don't forget the lunacy that the ludites have built on bradford road, farnworth. buses and large trucks can't turn into lavender road when there are any vehicles waiting to turn into bradford road. so they sit there blocking the entire road. however, the vehicles can't get out of the way due to the bus or truck blocking bradford road. why would anyone want to make a major route so narrow that one bus or truck can block it completely? chicanes are great in motor racing but not on the main route to a hospital!

Thoughtful Bolton wrote:

John Edwards wrote:
It's time that the people in this land woke up. What is needed is, a show of "civil disobedience" or a "general strike" against the government and councils. Rip off Britain, the Great went out years ago.

You could go to Australia where all the new motorways are toll roads and where a London style congestion charge is to be adopted in Sydney and Melbourne. You could go to France, Spain, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, the USA or dozens of other countries where they also have a lot of toll roads. Can no-one understand that we can't just go on putting more and more cars on the road, clogging up our towns and cities and ruining everyone's environment. SOMETHING must be done. Why don't all you moaners come up with some better ideas?

they all pay a lot less than us is fuel duty

Metacafe in wrote:
It seems everone is slagging off every poster on this comments.

We might as well mention Muslims will complain and won't have to pay, or Jews, illegal immigrants whoever...
To be honest, There's too many cars on the road these days anyway..Are UK people going to end up like americans..Fat Burger eating Couch potatoes?

well, you can bet that private hire vehicles will be exempt from the charge and most of them are asian, so ...