Hermon rejects Belfast Congestion Charge
Ulster Unionist MP Lady Hermon has declared opposition to any congestion charge for Belfast in response to the Department of Transport’s consideration of such proposals. Speaking from Westminster she said:
“Government consideration of a congestion charge for Belfast is utterly ridiculous. Belfast has nothing like the public transport infrastructure that benefits other cities where such charging operates. In London commuters can take the tube, bus, overland rail services or a combination of the three.
By contrast, those who work in Belfast have to commute by car from constituencies such as mine because we simply don’t have adequate public transport.”
The North Down MP continued:
“This proposal, as with those on water charges, would place an additional unfair financial burden on many people in Northern Ireland. It also reflects just how out of touch Transport Secretary Alistair Darling is with life in Greater Belfast. I’ll certainly make clear to him the realities of public transport in Northern Ireland, and my Party will oppose any such further local taxation.”