A PARTINGTON Councillor has accused Peel Holdings of 'double standards' when it comes to congestion charges.

Bucklow-St Martins Ward Cllr John Smith is angry that the company opposes road charging in Greater Manchester while in his own back yard Peel demands motorists pay a 12p 'toll tax' for using the Warburton Bridge.

Peel Holdings is the largest privately owned landowner in the north west with assets - that include the Trafford Centre and the ports of the Manchester Ship Canal - valued at over £2 billion.

Last month Peel chairman John Whittaker suggested selling Manchester Airport as an alternative way to fund transport improvements, something Cllr Smith finds a bit hard to swallow.

He explained: "The bridge toll is hated around here and it also means there's a hell of queue during rush hour, which makes it a congestion charge in the worst possible sense.

"Over recent weeks Peel Holdings have been running a prominent public campaign against the possibility of a congestion charge.

"People in Partington, whatever their own views about the congestion charge, find this a bit hypocritical when Peel are already operating their own toll tax on every driver who wants to enter or leave the borough via the toll bridge.

"This charge hits the pockets of Partington people particularly hard as this is one of the major access routes to the area.

"It's time Peel Holdings stood by their own principles and stopped imposing their private toll tax on local people."

The Warburton toll bridge was built over the Manchester Ship Canal, to accompany the original stone bridge that crossed the River Mersey.

The enabling legislation is referred to in the Rixton and Warburton Acts of 1863 and 1867 and it appears Peel is reluctant to go against tradition.

Peels managing director Andrew Simpson said: "I applaud Cllr Smith's objection to road charging and presume that he will now be publicly opposing Greater Manchester's proposal for the world's largest congestion charging scheme.

"A scheme that will cost ordinary people £100 per month, equivalent to an eight per cent cut in average net pay just to use the public roads.

"As a sensible person I wouldn't believe that Cllr Smith is being serious to compare this very huge and damaging scheme to the Warburton Bridge which was built with private money and receives no public sector support.

"The tiny charge of just 12p is used to fund repairs, maintenance, employment and health and safety to ensure this vital public thoroughfare is retained."

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