Transport Innovation Fund (TIF)

The Council meeting on Tuesday, as you may have detected in the press (here, here, and here amongst others!), was a slightly more lively affair than usual. The main topic of debate was always going to be the TIF bid (including the proposal for the congestion charge trigger point). There was lots of opportunity for people to speak, but in the end lots of people were unable to speak as time ran out.

People spoke from both sides of the debate; Shona Johnstone (CON) in particular spoke in favour of the TIF bid - it was interesting to see the force of her argument wielded against something other than the Liberal Democrat Opposition to the Councils private Policy Planning Meetings! In contrast was Peter Reeve (the newest member of the Council from UKIP) who spoke in opposition to the motion but while he was unable to offer any solution to the problem of congestion he did raise the issue of the Carrot and Stick approach. He just didn't like the size of the stick, or for that matter the size of the Carrot!

Whilst I don't agree with his opposition to TIF the idea of "Carrot and Stick" struck a cord with me; a congestion charge is not something that I believe should be anything other than an absolute last resort (when literally all else has failed). It's for this reason I voted in favour on Tuesday - for me the idea of "trigger points" is exactly the right way to go. If all else fails then we'll have a congestion charge - but ONLY if all else fails.

It does have to be pointed out though; We are only going to avoid a congestion charge by working together - not just as individuals but collectively in the organisations that we all represent. Is it really necessary that we all start work or school at 8.30? Is it really necessary we all get to where we need to be by car? If it is necessary then the future will definitely contain a charge - there is simply no way to avoid it. The roads are finite and if the number of cars keeps increasing journey times and pollution will get worse and whatever trigger point the County, District, and City Councils decide upon will be met. Even if there was no congestion charge the situation would still be intolerable!

Hopefully the mere possibility that there could be a charge, and the fact that any potential charge is many years away, will give us the time we need to adjust our lives in order to allow us to avoid it.