Congested from manchester

I have a real issue with the current campaigning for and against the Manchester congestion charge. Not because I'm fundamentally opposed or in favour of the idea, but because a campaign on a topic such as this should be clear, to the point and lay out it's case with a compelling argument. I lived in London all my life and to be honest the congestion charge had some effect on calming the streets (although the subsequent price increases have been a flimsy excuse to increase earnings from a captive audience). What's bugged me with the Manchester advertising has been the lack of any conclusive argument within the campaigns themselves.

The "stop the charge" lobby lead with a "Vote NO!" poster, black background / white text and the line "£1200 to drive your car" (note - it's about £2 in and £1 out. That's it.) No argument about why or why not we need a congestion charge, just a cheap and bland "It'll hit you where it hurts" message. Other anti groups have adopted a similar approach. It comes across as facile and bland.

The pro lobby, led by Greater Manchester Future Transport leads with an above the line message "I won't have to pay the congestion charge...because I travel off peak". I'm stunned. I drive into work, so it's not talking to me, or telling me the benefits of why it's a good thing, it's just telling me that other people won't have to pay it because they wouldn't have been hit by it in the first place. It's random and irrelevant to the people it should be targeting - me the commuting driver.

So, it's nice to see someone doing something with a bit of impact and a clear message....



Enter stage right Mr Peter Saville. Very simple - Manchester needs the investment in transport from a congestion charge or the city will grind to a halt. Voila - a nice bit of video on You Tube to send around to your friends. A point well made.

To be fair, the "pro" website has changed it's messaging of late and is doing a decent job of giving a proper argument - given the vote takes place in a couple of weeks and knowledge is everything...