It can, but it doesn't happen very often. One way of looking at things would be to see what benefit there is to a PTE area by taking cars off the road travelling into that area from counties outside.
As a possible method of finance raising, there was a proposal for a congestion charge system in the Manchester area consisting of an outer and an inner ring, somewhat akin to the London method. The monies raised were envisaged to finance a part of the Manchester Metrolink system expansion.
After much discussion, it was agreed to hold a referendum on the matter in all of the 10 areas that make up Greater Manchester. It would have had to have a certain area percentage for the scheme to have proceeded.
I have kept a copy of the referendum dated 12th December 2008 and the 10 area results were as follows:-
AREA.....................................For.............................Against
Bolton.......................................20,529.....................,,..76,910
Bury.........................................16,563.........................64,001
Manchester................................43,593.......................113,064
Oldham......................................17,571........................68,884
Rochdale....................................17,333........................61,686
Salford.......................................14,603........................79,326
Stockport...................................24,090.......................103,706
Tameside....................................16,323........................83,105
Trafford......................................20,445........................83,568
Wigan.........................................27,810.......................78,565
As you can see, all 10 areas voted against the congestion charge proposals and the matter was dropped. When it came to it, the aspirations of the proponents were subjugated to the will of the people who would have to had to pay to travel in and out of congestion zone charges.
But that was true democracy in action.
