Manchester says "No"

An overwhelming majority of voters have rejected plans for a congestion charge in Manchester. All ten boroughs of the city voted against the proposals. A majority of voters in the region voted against the plans, with 812,815 (79%) no votes and 218,860 (21%) in favour of the charge.
A massive publicity campaign was waged by both Yes and No groups up to the last day of polling. Those against the proposals claimed the congestion charge would be an unfair tax on motorists, while those in favour said that it would provide an opportunity to create the best public transport system in the UK.
Had Manchester voted Yes, drivers would be paying up to £5 a day – or £1,200 a year – to use the region's roads, The Manchester result could also discourage other local authorities pursuing a congestion charge option.
Voters reject congestion charge

At least Manchester got asked.
In February 2007 I stated my objection to the western expansion of London's congestion charge zone (aka the motorists' stealth tax). Last month Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, decided to abolish the extension introduced last year by his his predecessor, Ken Livingstone. The move follows a public consultation in which 67% of respondents, including 86% of businesses, said they wanted the extended levy zone lifted.
The extension - and its £8 daily charge - which covers Kensington and Chelsea and part of Westminster, will remain until spring 2010 as legal procedures are completed.
The axing of the extension comes months after Mr Johnson also scrapped another initiative by Ken Livingstone, which would have seen drivers of 4x4s and other "gas guzzlers" facing a daily £25 charge to come into the heart of London.
C-charge extension to be scrapped

Transport for London will reportedly lose £70 million per year in income from the scheme's removal. However, to quote from an article in the Times:
"Five years after the London congestion charge was introduced, the capital’s road system is still chaotic with traffic moving at a snail’s pace. Promises of a transformation of public transport proved illusory".

While I still have a dislike for celebrity mayors, Boris Johnson should be congratulated for listening to the wishes of his fellow Londoners....