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How about a tourist "congestion charge" in the Peak?
So Manchester is to apply for funding from the government to bring in a congestion charging scheme for vehicles entering the city.
Whilst residents will doubtless enjoy a discounted price, the thousands of commuters who travel there from places like High Peak every day will bear the brunt.
The scheme is backed – in principle – by a huge majority of Manchester's residents and all but two of the councils in Greater Manchester.
I want to see it succeed because improved traffic flows help all of us.
I have seen congestion charging work in London and there is no reason why it should not work in Manchester.
Alongside the charge for motorists to enter Manchester will be, and must be, better access to public transport for others.
This means extending the Metrolink, providing longer and more frequent trains, park and ride schemes and the better regulation of buses.
The new Gamesley Halt station must be a priority and I want to see more frequent trains on the Buxton line.
These are things that the congestion charge should pay for, as well as its own set-up and running costs.
When it comes in, some years from now, it should be an effective, green and self-financing scheme.
Perhaps we need to think again about traffic management locally.
In the past, the Peak Park has looked at charging for the use of some key roads. This could be a way of getting visitors to contribute more to the maintenance of our countryside as well as tackling summer bottlenecks.
We should also do more for cyclists, both residents and visitors. We should improve our network of cycle paths and look for where new cycle lanes might help.
I welcome the recent changes to the Highway Code for which cyclists have been campaigning.
These clarify the law about the use of cycle lanes and legal liability.
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Weather for Buxton
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy snow
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
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