Williams BMW urges No vote on c-charge

Williams BMW has sent out an email to addresses on its database urging recipients to vote no to congestion charging - arguing that the charge will cost motorists an extra £1200 a year.

The email was sent out from the marketing department of Williams BMW. The Williams Group is a member of the Greater Manchester Momentum Group (GMMG) and is supporting their campaign against congestion charging in central Manchester.

The email urges voters 'not to miss their chance to say no in the referendum' and to post their votes early to stop it.

The news of the Williams mailshot comes after auditors cleared Stockport Council of an accusation that they had illegally spent money on adverts telling residents what the effect of the TIF scheme would be on the borough.

John McGoldrick, a spokesman for the National Alliance Against Tolls, another of the opposition groups, said that it would have been a travesty if this claim had succeeded.

"The various authorities have spent millions on a campaign to sell their scheme. Ofcom recently ruled that the TIF advert was political and therefore banned it from TV," he said. "It is a pity that there is nobody that has the power to look at all the other things that have happened over the last two years.

"The ballot paper pack in this "referendum" has nothing in it giving the case of those who are opposed to the scheme. The leaflet even directs people to look at the GM Future Transport website. We hope that all those who have not yet voted will see through the sales campaign that they have been subjected to and vote No."