04-10-2007 No to this extra burden: Chris Kelly writes to The Birmingham Post Keltruck's Chairman & MD, Chris Kelly, has written to The Birmingham Post opposing the introduction of congestion charging in the West Midlands.

No to this extra burden Dear Editor, You report "Congestion charging is back on the political agenda" again (Post Sept 26). Can I perhaps say, congestion charging never went off Centro's political agenda. There was a vote taken by the leaders of the seven authorities in this area, and they overwhelmingly voted against congestion charging. Centro however could not accept that, and Geoff Inskip (Centro's CEO) wrote on this page within days suggesting it was merely a hiccup on the road to implementing charging. As we have five out of the seven local authorities controlled by Tories, is it not odd that Centro has its own agenda, diametrically opposed to that of the ruling five - and not least John Spellar MP and many other Labour councillors. They understand what it would be like to face up to their electorate on the doorstep after presenting them with an extra burden of more than £30 per week just to get to work. Centro can issue all the press releases they like, but at the end of the day, our councillors are sensible enough to make their own minds up on what is good for this region, and it certainly is not congestion charging and workplace taxes. CHRIS KELLY West Bromwich

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