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Councillor's 'concern' over Cardiff congestion charge

By Mark Mansfield
Traffic in Cardiff

A Rhondda Cynon Taf councillor has said it would be “completely unfair” if its residents have to pay a congestion charge to drive into Cardiff.

During a discussion on the regional transport plan at an RCT Council overview and scrutiny committee meeting on Monday, May 12, Councillor Scott Emanuel who represents Treherbert, said the idea had been giving him a great deal of concern.

He said he realised it doesn’t form part of the plan yet but he felt it was worth commenting on the possibility of a congestion charge in Cardiff.

He said: “I know it’s something that they’ve been looking at for a number of years and it’s been giving me a great deal of concern for a number of years.

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Negative impact

He said he realised it’s probably a long way off but as part of the wider region, he thought it was “vital that any future charges don’t have a negative impact on our residents because our residents overwhelmingly travel south to work so if they were having to pay a congestion charge to access Cardiff I think that would be completely unfair”.

Cllr Emanuel said if they did go ahead with it in future, it’s imperative they press as a region for any revenue to be equitably distributed and earmarked to assist with public transport improvements to give residents a chance to access work without having to pay extra.

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'Penalising people'

Councillor Sera Evans, who represents Treorchy, said a congestion charge would be “highly concerning” to her because it hasn’t got the employment opportunities Cardiff offers.

She said: “We don’t want to be penalising people who have to travel out of the Valleys to access employment in Cardiff.”

She said she would be opposed to a congestion charge and would have serious concerns about it.

A spokesperson for Cardiff Council confirmed the council has not made any decision on a road user charging scheme and is in the process of researching possible options.

They said future business case development work will involve engagement and consultation at the appropriate time and will seek views on what a fair and equitable scheme could look like.

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12 comments

Ed Thomas

Don't clog up Cardiff with your out of town cars, use public transport.

Reply
hdavies15

Says someone most likely living comfortably in the city or having no need to go there regularly. A more sensible alternative would have been to locate more workplaces away from the congested centres, even away from Cardiff. Given that we have been "connected" by cable for the last 20 years or so and that technology keeps on improving the logic for crowding everything into one city has long since disappeared, unless of course you are a property developer with assets ......in Cardiff !.

Reply
Iago

While I agree we need a restructure in the South, it is definitely easier to just get the train.

Reply
PMB

We love a Comedian .

Reply
W rees

How about tradesmen trying to earn a living bringing in their vans. You can't carry toolboxes and ladders on a bus. Q¹

Reply
Barnaby

That's a fair request to use the revenues to improve the metro across the whole Cardiff Capital Region. The new tram-trains can be run into communities that are currently not connected to the rail network using on-street running.

Reply
Robert

Higher costs for motorists and lower costs for those using public transport alongside public transport improvements. No exceptions based on location.

Reply
D Harding

From Pontycymer to Canton TFW depot,is 25 miles ,first bus is 6.20 AM to Bridgend ,it takes 1 hour , then next bus or train takes another 1 + hours . I start work at 6 AM . Impossible on public transport.

Reply
Terry

I will go to Newport instead spend my money where is is welcomed

Reply
Bob

City congestion charges and airport use charges are one big scam . Just another stealth tax upon vehicles , why are they getting away with this scam . Clean air zones lol we're dismissed in the Birmingham area whereby a judge said that poor quality air stops at the tail pipe as most vehicles have catalytic converters , making the air pollution zones a farce to raise extra revenue whilst the struggling motorists are being rinsed daily with sky high parking charges, parking fines , clamping ,extortionate car tax rises etc etc. It's about time we got together and said enough is enough. This country is at an all time high in over charging us all for essentials , food, rents, taxes fuel , etc etc .

Reply
Why vote

Who benefits from these schemes, the people who live in city's? The people who visit city's? Local government raising extra revenue needed to cover the loss of business rates and business taxes lost as Ltns are rolled out across Wales and companies close causing higher unemployment.

Reply
Robbie

Electrified lines to Treherbert, and from Pontypridd it's every few minutes right into central Cardiff. Leave your cars at home people, you don't need them for anything else than trips up the valleys these days.

Reply

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Replying to Terry Cancel

I will go to Newport instead spend my money where is is welcomed

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