Manchester Labour councillors plan secret underground car park “in the interest of democracy”
Written by The Voice on 3rd July 2008 – 2:09 pmThe Manchester Evening News reports:
PRO-CONGESTION charge councillors are planning to build themselves a private underground car park in the city centre. Senior Labour councillors - who are backing the toll in exchange for a massive expansion of public transport - want to tunnel next to the town hall to provide spaces for the 96 elected members, a handful of top officials and approved visitors. Ironically the car park bunker, under the Peace Gardens, would be only a few yards from one of Manchester’s main tram stops in St Peter’s Square.
… Bernard Priest, Labour’s finance chief and the man behind the plan, said better parking for councillors was `in the interests of democracy’. Council officers have been told to draw up detailed plans including the exact size and cost of the car park - expected to run to many millions. A private Labour group document says it would `provide adequate parking for members on busy council days’. …
Coun Priest said: “There is a debate going on about whether councillors should be using cars. Councillors would not be exempt from the congestion charge - that would be plain wrong. But when they are coming to meetings, in the interest of democracy, they have to be able to park here free. We can’t make people effectively pay to be a councillor.” …
Manchester’s Lib Dems are in no doubt where they stand on Labour’s hypocrisy:
Simon Ashley, leader of Manchester’s Lib Dem opposition, said: “Spending millions on a car park for councillors sends out utterly the wrong message about congestion. This is a complete waste of money.”
Posted in Local government, News
3rd July 2008 at 3:22 pm
It’s not really a C-Charge dodge though.
Coun Priest - “We can’t make people effectively pay to be a councillor.”
Well it’s not as if Manchester Councillors don’t get an allowance (c.£12k IIRC). I’m pretty certain no-one is paying to be a Manchester Councillor.
3rd July 2008 at 8:35 pm
But can’t they reclaim any car parking charges necessarily incurred in attending meetings ?
And in a place like Manchester the railway/ tram/ bus network should be well capable of meeting their needs.
5th July 2008 at 3:02 pm
Those NuLab trolls never change do they? Always an eye out for the main chance & haw they can benefit themselves at everyone else’s expense. And always one rule for us, another rule for them.
5th July 2008 at 3:59 pm
I’ve been told that Manchester Councillors already have free parking at the town hall. However if they pay for parking then that isn’t reclaimable as it’s all rolled up into the basic allowance (which was the purpose of the changes to the structure of allowances)
9th July 2008 at 10:27 pm
Just another example of the Labour Party believing itself to have exceptional privileges derived from its divine right to
rule, very often (as over donations for example) involving breaking rules/laws it has passed which then only apply to “others”.
14th July 2008 at 9:09 pm
In response to Mike Falchikov, you are right. This is just like communism - one rule for the ruling elite whilst all their uncomfortable laws are passed for the proles - in this case the voters of Manchester.