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Labour says NO to 'unfair' Congestion Charge
22 March 2008
"Cambridge's transport problems need urgent attention – but this morning car tax on our people is not the solution" says Daniel Zeichner, Labour Parliamentary Spokesperson for Cambridge.
Labour in Cambridge wants
- to scrap the current Conservative Congestion Charge scheme for Cambridge residents.
- A public enquiry to establish the best option for tackling congestion
- The council to use the new powers from the Labour Government to improve bus services.
- Instead of using all of the airfield site for housing, consider other sites such as rail-linked Waterbeach.
Why penalise Cambridge residents for commuter traffic?
Any congestion charge for Cambridge must be fair to city residents. The Conservative County Council has received government money to make its scheme workable and fair. Commuter traffic causes the congestion, but Cambridge residents are being asked to pay for it with a scheme the council has drawn up in secrecy.
The Lib Dem run City Council could stop the Congestion Charge now by saying 'NO' to the County Council. But they are going along with County Conservatives in imposing a morning tax. Residents outside Cambridge are being told it will pay for road schemes outside the city like the Ely bypass.
Daniel Zeichner and Labour councillors say that it is essential to improve Cambridge bus services first. They argue that the County Council's transport strategy will destroy Cambridge's precious commons and meadows as they plan to use concrete guided busways to solve the transport problems associated with putting over 10,000 houses on Marshall's.
Where's your nearest camera?
Labour also has civil liberties concerns about the current scheme, which includes 74 cameras on 37 sites across the city, with five mobile units to be additionally deployed.
Tackling Climate Change
Daniel Zeichner is proud that Labour is taking the lead nationally … the story so far No country has done more than Britain's Labour Government on Climate Change, including leading international action by
- Securing G8 agreement on its urgency, a package of actions, and a crucial new dialogue with emerging economies like China and India
- Setting up new international funding system to help developing nations switch to green technologies
- Finally persuaded Bush to recognise the need for US targets and action, as agreed at the recent post-Kyoto summit in Bali
In the UK, Labour has been just as determined to protect the planet and deliver change and has
- Committed the UK to increasing use of renewable energy sources and meeting its share of a 20% reduction target by 2020
- Introduced the Climate Change Bill and Energy Bill to reduce UK emissions and move to greener energy sources.
- Required all new homes to be carbon neutral by 2016
- Investigated plastic bag controls and wider changes to cut supermarkets packaging waste
- Introduced new one-stop Green Homes service. One household in three to be offered help over the next three years to cut their carbon footprint, with projected annual savings of over £100 per household
Labour backs local initiative on training for young people
There is a quiet revolution going on to retrain people to meet the economic challenges ahead and to make sure young people have the skills they need. Daniel Zeichner took Labour Communities Minister Hazel Blears to Cambridge Regional College to meet some of the young people at the SmartLIFE project. Students learn the latest sustainable building techniques, which will be essential for constructing zero-carbon homes around Cambridge.
Government funds skills training for all Daniel Zeichner is also working with local trade unions to encourage employers to sign up to the Skills Pledge: "The Labour Government is guaranteeing that everyone should have access to training to make sure they have basic skills. Employers are often amazed to find that, not only is the cost of the training met by Government, but that they get help to cover the time staff are on the training course. This is the biggest programme of training ever undertaken - it transforms lives, boosts our economy, and makes sure that local people have the skills to do the jobs we need." To find out more visit: www.traintogain.gov.uk