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hello

thing you may find interesting

1 On Saturday 21 december 12.30-2.30 st edmunds church, rochdale is hosting a free singing and goodies round the piano with members of \Cantare ( rochdale ladies choir)the church is a grade 1 listed church built for £4million by a wealthy free mason and now kept going by volunteers ( its deconsecrated) and its superb to look at and only open two days/month

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Lovely, thanks Steve, will include in our recommendations on Thursday

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Dec 16Edited

I don’t have an issue with TfGM fining people for travelling without a ticket, especially given it (largely) goes back into ensuring the service works.

I do dislike the inconsistency though, I once saw an older white couple on the tram who had clearly got confused and not tapped in. The TfGM officer informed them of their mistake and allowed them to get off and tap in at the next stop. That same officer spoke to a group of young black men on the same journey and instantly assumed that they were evading the fair on purpose and proceeded to give them all a fine.

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The Mill article seems to imply they object to people paying just under 5 pounds for forgetting to tap out. What is the alternative? 5 Pounds is hardly an eye watering amount to the average metro user - although sadly it is to some. Apparently there are discretionary refunds in the latter case. Always easier to criticise than to run an efficient service.

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Fines for not travelling with a valid ticket are completely fair. The tram, unlike the London Underground, is much more open and accessible, with no barriers to entry. There will, of course, be people who think this means they can take advantage a d get a free ride, with other mugs having to pay for them instead. Fines help ensure that honest travellers don't have to pay more to cover the chances.

In terms of the £4.80 cost of not tapping out, isn't that the cost of a single ticket for the longest possible journey that day? That also seems fair enough to me - if you don't tap out, how can TfGM know whether you travelled a single stop, or from East Didsbury to Rochdale?

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Fine? Not really. Happened to me three times. First two I called & got a refund no problem. Third time I see it as a nitwit tax I’m prepared to pay

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