David Ottewell's Politics

Manchester council appears to be stepping up its press and PR operation:

I notice – from emails, blog comments and this thread at skyscrapercity – that people think I am over-emphasising the £10 cap on the proposed congestion charge.
The argument is that only a tiny fraction of people (fewer than 1 per cent, actually) would pay the maximum £10 a day. To do so they would have to cross the charging rings multiple times at peak hours.
On balance I think there may be something in this. While my preferred shorthand description of “a peak-hour congestion charge of up to £10 a day” is correct, it may give the wrong impression to the casual reader.
I’m open to suggestions for a snappy tabloid alternative.
I still maintain that it was either really stupid or really clever to set the cap at £10.
Newpapers and the media in general need a quick and easy way of describing the charge, and specifically how much it would cost. “Up to £5 a day” – the previously understood limit – sounded a lot better than “up to £10 a day”. Unfortunately “up to £5 a day” is no longer accurate.
Balance the amount that will be raised from those paying more than £5 (i.e. not much) against the negative publicity of replacing “up to £5 a day” with “up to £10 a day” in media coverage.
Doesn’t make sense, does it?
Unless, that is, there are plans afoot to scrap the £10 cap after consultation. Then all the minuses become pluses. Those behind the TIF bid will look – to those casual readers I mentioned above – like they have miraculously halved the charge. They will be able to claim they have listened to public demands. And they won’t be losing very much in revenue.
Cynical? We’ve been here before. And I was right then, wasn’t I?

I’ll be honest. I’m lost for words.

Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, has been getting hot under the collar that the congestion charge/TIF consultation exhibition hasn’t been given a confirmed date in Denton.
He raised the matter in parliament yesterday, asking transport minister Rosie Winterton whether she shared his ‘concern and dismay’ that Denton wasn’t on this list.
“Can she ensure that my constituents’ views will be sought by the powers-that-be in that process and use her good offices to ensure that we have a roadshow?” he asked.
Well, I don’t know if Ms Winterton’s been on the phone to Sir Howard, but I’m told there will be a roadshow in Denton. On July 27, if you are in the area.