United City

United City is a group of businesses based within Greater Manchester, England. They are supporting proposals for congestion charging in Greater Manchester and the corresponding Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) bid for £3 billion ($6 billion US dollars), which if successful will make it the United Kingdom's largest public transport investment in history outside of London. [cite web |url=http://www.unitedcity.co.uk/index.php |title= United City Home Page|publisher=United City|accessdate=2008-06-09] United City had over 107 members at 9 August 2008. [cite web |url=http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/search?Category=SEARCH |title=Airport and airlines join United City |publisher=Crains Manchester Business |accessdate=2008-08-09]

Background and history

;5 June 2008:United City went public with their plans and to support the bid for the £3 billion Transport Innovation Fund (TIF). Since then they have been gathering support for the bid and they have been putting their views across to make improvements. They class themselves as an independent alliance. [cite web |url=http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080605/FREE/140095200 |title= New business group forms to support TIF bid|publisher=Crains Manchester Business |accessdate=2008-06-06]

;18 June 2008:They announced C-charge demands and that the group had grown to over 50 members in a number of days. [cite web |url=http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080618/FREE/225484253 |title= United City announces C-charge demands |publisher=Crains Manchester Business |accessdate=2008-06-18]

;30 June 2008:United City announced that the group had grown to 62 members and included Infinity Asset Management, a private equity firm. [cite web |url=http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080630/FREE/616530125 |title= Private equity firm to join pro-TIF lobby group |publisher=Crains Manchester Business |accessdate=2008-06-30]

;7 July 2008:The group said the £2.7bn package could be worth up to £10bn ($20bn US dollars) to the local economy. [cite web |url=http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080707/FREE/130444376 |title=Group says TIF would bring £10bn to economy |publisher=Crains Manchester Business |accessdate=2008-07-07]

;14 July 2008:United City announced that more members had joined include many major hotels and major leisure groups within Manchester. The group had grown to over 75 members. [cite web |url=http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080714/FREE/637865748 |title=Hotels, pubs and clubs associations join pro-TIF lobby |publisher=Crains Manchester Business |accessdate=2008-07-14]

;24 July 2008:United City announced that PZ Cussons along with other major businesses where backing the bid. The group had grown to 83 members by this date. [cite web |url=http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080724/FREE/932353744 |title=PZ Cussons backs congestion charging plans |publisher=Crains Manchester Business |accessdate=2008-07-24]

;30 July 2008:The Department for Transport released figures for 2007 showed that average traffic speeds during the morning rush hour on the major arterial routes around Greater Manchester are the slowest in the country. United City say these figures support the bid for the transport fund. The group had grown to over 90 members by this date. [cite web |url=http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/FREE/604214342/-1/breaking/-/-/traffic-figures-support-tif-bid-united-city-says |title=Traffic figures support TIF bid, United City says |publisher=Crains Manchester Business |accessdate=2008-07-30]

;4 August 2008:Dr Leif Jerram, lecturer in urban history at the University of Manchester released a research paper backing the bid after being approached by United City. [cite web |url=http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080804/FREE/312194565 |title=UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC BACKS £2.7BN TIF BID |publisher=Crains Manchester Business |accessdate=2008-08-04]

;9 August 2008:Two Major companies including British Airways Plc and Manchester Airport along with Alpha Airports Group Plc, SSP UK Air Ltd and VLM Airlines joined United City. The 5 companies employ over 4,000 people at the airport. Andrew Cornish, Manchester Airport’s managing director, was quoted saying: “Improving the way our passengers and staff access the airport is a key objective of our master plan to 2030 and TIF would enable us to reach our targets within the next five years. The airport is critical to the economic and social fabric of the region. We consider TIF fundamental to the region because it unlocks the potential for a world-class public transport system.” The group had reached 107 members by this date. [cite web |url=http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/search?Category=SEARCH |title=Airport and airlines join United City |publisher=Crains Manchester Business |accessdate=2008-08-09]

;1 October 2008:According to a new research paper by tourist body Visit Manchester, they have called for the introduction of an Oyster Style Ticketing system into Manchester. The report argues that the TIF even with the congestion charge would have a net benefit to Visitors to the City. Visit Manchester have since joined UnitedCity. [cite web |url=http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081001/FREE/810019978 |title=Visit Manchester: TIF bid needs access card |publisher=Crains Manchester Business |accessdate=2008-10-01]

Aim, conditions and demands

Two quotes from United City explain their aims. 'A statement from United City said it would “represent all forward-thinking companies and organisations which understand that the economic future of Greater Manchester depends on a sustainable road and public transport system and that a world-class integrated network will hugely improve the city region's competitive advantage in the global marketplace.” '

'Ken Knott, chief executive of Ask Developments, said: "United City wants to win (Greater Manchester’s) bid for a world-class public transport network for a world-class city region. We agree with the public authorities that doing nothing is not an option.” '

Their demands are :-
*A cap of only one charge for business vehicles passing through a charging ring more than once during the charging periods. This will help businesses which, for example, have to make peak-time deliveries across the M60 and inner charging rings. "This is currently a maximum £10 charge per day"
*An exemption for Trafford Park from any charge until the Metrolink line is completed. "A 50% a currently been purposed"
*An exemption for motorcycles. "This has been met"
*All excess income from congestion charging to be ring-fenced wholly for spending on public transport in Greater Manchester. "This has been met"

These are in addition to the following conditions set down by United City :-

*The great majority of the public transport improvements outlined within the TIF proposals must be in place before a congestion charge is introduced. "80% has promised to be in place"
*The congestion charge must only be active when congestion causes the economy the greatest cost (during the early morning and evening rush hours).
*The income from congestion charging is ring-fenced to service only repayments for the capital loan from central government, for investment in and support of public transport in Greater Manchester.
*An independent individual or body must be in place to oversee the public transport investment and the implementation of the congestion charge. [cite web |url=http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080605/FREE/140095200 |title= New business group forms to support TIF bid|publisher=Crains Manchester Business |accessdate=2008-06-06]

upporters

*888 Hotel Ltd

*Allied London

*Albany Crown Limited (New)

*Alpha Airports Group Plc

*Ansa Elevators (New)

*Argent

*Armstrong Payroll Solutions

*Arora International
*Arup

*Ashley Holye (New)
*ASK Developments

*Baines & Ernst
*Bardsley Group

*BDP (Building Design Partnership)

*Berg Legal (New)

*Blair Endersby

*British Airways

*Bruntwood

*City Inn (New)

*Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s University Hospitals NHS Trust (CMMC) (Include Manchester Children’s Hospitals, University Dental Hospital of Manchester, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester Royal Infirmary and St Mary’s Hospital for Women and Children)
*City South Partnership
*CityCo

*Cornerhouse

*Creative Industries Development Service

*Creative Concern

*Crosby Lend Lease

*Cussons Plc (New)
*Dandara

*Davis Langdon

*DB Refurb Ltd

*Dinosaur (New)

*Drivers Jonas (New)
*DTZ

*Easycall Finance

*EC Harris (New)

*Edmond Shipway (New)

*Eric Wright Group

*FKDA (New)

*Front Row Events (New)

*Fruhman Davies Livingstones (New)

*Genr8 Developments LLP

*Gifford (New)

*Greengate Metal

*GVA Grimley

*Gyroscope

*Hale Communications (New)

*Halliwells (New)

*Harvest Housing Group
*Heathcotes Restaurants

*Hemisphere

*HKR Architects

*Holiday Inn Express
*Hurstwood Group

*Ian Simpson Architects

*Inacity
*Inventive Leisure

*ISIS Waterside Regeneration (New)
*Jones Lang LaSalle

*JM Architects (New)

*King Associates

*KPMG
*Kro
*Latium Group
*LBM

*Lewis Facilities (New)

*Makin Architecture (New)

*Malmaison

* Mancat (New)

*Manchester Airport

*Manchester Arndale

*Manchester Pub and Club Network (Has a membership of over 600)

*Manchester Hoteliers Association (Represent 50 hotels and venues in Greater Manchester)

*Manchester Science Park

*MHA

*Modlia

*Modus Ventures Ltd
*Muse

*NCP Mcr Ltd(New)

*New Charter
*Nickal

*Novotel

*Opal Property Group
*P3 Property Consultants

*Pan World Brands Ltd
*Paradigm Group
*Paymex Ltd
*Piccadilly Partnership
*Property Alliance

*PZ Cussons

*Raygrade Ltd (New)

*Radisson Hotels Edwardian
*Realty Estates

*Revolution

*Right Communications Ltd
*Russells Construction

*SKV PR (New)

*Sound Communication (New)

*SSP UK Air Ltd

*Stirling Group

*Tameside College
*TCS

*Ten Alps Media (New)

*Tenon Bolton (New)
*Timpson

*Townson Associates LLP (New)

*UHC Design LTD (New)
*Urban Splash

*Veredus Manchester (New)
*Vickers Electronics

*Virtual Planit(New)

*Vision Twentyone (New)

*VLM Airlines
*West Properties

*Whitaker Horton (New)

*Whizz Go (New)
*WHR Property

*World Class Service [cite web |url=http://www.unitedcity.co.uk/downloads/media/TIF_announcement_June_9_press_release.doc |title= TIF Announcement June 9th|publisher=United City|accessdate=2008-06-09] [cite web |url=http://www.unitedcity.co.uk/supporters+club.php |title= Supporters Club|publisher=United City|accessdate=2008-07-10] [cite web |url=http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080714/FREE/637865748 |title= Hotels, pubs and clubs associations join pro-TIF lobby |publisher=Crains Manchester Business|accessdate=2008-07-14]

ee also

*List of companies based in Greater Manchester
*Greater Manchester Transport Innovation Fund (TiF)
*Manchester congestion charge

References