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Is Big Brother coming to Peak?
Considering he is now defending a very slender majority it seems foolhardy as well as insensitive for High Peak MP Tom Levitt to write so warmly about proposals to introduce congestion charging in the Peak District.
He may believe congestion charging has worked in London, but the truth is that is debatable. What is undeniable is that many ordinary Londoners, often low-paid and doing essential jobs, have suffered enormous financial hardship as a result of the charge because they cannot get to their places of work without passing through the charging zone.
As for the proposed scheme in Manchester it should not be for the MP for High Peak to speak in support of that. It is a regional decision, not a government policy.
What he should be considering is the possible effects on his own constituents, many of whom have no choice but to work in Manchester but whose workplaces cannot realistically be reached by public transport and so may be forced to pay the charge.
But what is most worrying is that Mr Levitt seems ready to embrace the idea of a congestion charge in this constituency. Does he really want to see surveillance cameras recording the number plates of cars passing through the Peak District? (This is information we now know the police have ready access to).
Even if some means could be devised of restricting the charge to tourists and not locals, the idea is still obnoxious. We already live in the most spied-on society on earth.
If people cannot escape Big Brother when visiting the countryside then there is something deeply wrong and it is extraordinary that our MP can't see it.
I assume Mr Levitt doesn't want to commit political suicide, so perhaps he knows something about the views of his constituents on this subject that I don't. But he won't get my vote again unless he shows his clear opposition to any such plans.
Neil McKay
Barlow Road
Chapel-en-le-Frith
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Weather for Buxton
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
