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Owners of homes by metro in shock levy
Wednesday 27th August 2008, 10:59AM BST.
People living in more than 10,000 new homes to be built near new Midland Metro lines in the Black Country could have to pay an extra £2,500 for the privilege.
And companies across the region may also be expected to fund an extra £5 million a year through their business rates prompting concerns from bosses who say they are not “a bottomless pit”.
The plans, revealed in a report by transport body Centro, are part of ambitious proposals to raise £210 million to extend the tram system through the Black Country.
The value of new homes could rise if they are built close to new stops, therefore it is suggested developers would have to pay more to build close to lines, making house prices increase.
It would leave a shortfall of only £40 million, just over 10 per cent of what transport bosses originally expected the Government to provide for extensions into Wolverhampton, Birmingham and out to Brierley Hill.
Hopes of extending the Metro were thrown into disarray in March when the Department for Transport refused to provide the cash unless the councils of the West Midlands forced a trial congestion charging scheme on drivers.
Since then public transport authority Centro and the Black Country Consortium have been working to find alternative funding sources.
Centro chief executive Geoff Inskip revealed today how extra taxes would help to pay back loans.
Merry Hill shopping centre owners Westfield have already pledged £36 million, Centro has committed £49.5m and £3m of taxpayers’ money has been allocated. It leaves transport chiefs looking for around £250m.
Mr Inskip said £90m would come from developers who would contribute because of the advantages the Metro would offer while £50m would be sought from regional development agency Advantage West Midlands.
A further £10m will come from the owners of 10,700 new properties to be built alongside the Metro by 2026.
Mr Inskip said: “Assuming a supplement of £2,500 per dwelling, a levy could raise over £25m by 2026 if the housing numbers were reached.”
Travel Midland Metro, which operates the existing line between Wolverhampton and Birmingham Snow Hill, declined to comment.
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Why should we the taxpaye give them more money??? We are sick of the scrounging transport body that is Centro.
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I was under the impression that we had already provided taxes for additional public transport! We have been told for years that rising car and fuel taxes were to pay for public transport… where did that money go??
It’s about time Centro were disbanded… that would save plenty of cash to pay for improvement.
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agreed. but woudl you rather have road pricing?
road pricing is the single worst idea any government has come up with in many a year.
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QUOTE:Department for Transport refused to provide the cash unless the councils of the West Midlands forced a trial congestion charging scheme on drivers.
Excuse me – but isnt that blackmail?
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welcome to rip off britain
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what a downright cheek to ask no not ask to tell housebuyers to cough up to pay for the metro extension if its such a good idea to build it why arent private enterprise beating down the doors to get some of the action i live in wednesbury and if it is built to merry hill wednesbury will become more of a ghost town than it already is cant the local councilors see any further than their noses leave it unbuilt
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Badly written article. Doesn’t actually explain how the £2500 will be charged. Will the house builder pay it and then the home buyer won’t even realise they are paying it? Possibly this information isn’t know but aren’t jounalists meant to find out information.
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