One big 'NO' from every borough

Reporter: Kirsty Rigg
Date online: 12/12/2008

A triumph over government "blackmail" was shared throughout Greater Manchester today as every single borough voted one big ‘NO’ to the congestion charge.

The massive rejection of the proposed charge came with some force today (Friday 12 December) as the congestion charge referendum demonstrated the strength of public opinion.

In Rochdale, 61,686 people voted 'no', against 17,333 who voted 'yes'. More than half the population of the borough cast their votes, making it the seventh highest turn-out of the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester.

The result was announced at the crowded Exchange Hall in Manchester Central at midday.

Paul Rowen MP told Rochdale Online how he “must accept” the public decision. He added: “They have quite clearly spoken against these proposals across Greater Manchester.

“I don’t think the current economic climate helped as people are watching their pennies. Despite this decision, we still have problems with congestion and we now need to look at other solutions including improving a dramatically under funded transport system.

“This will of course mean that we need to look at other ways of funding the crucial Metrolink from Rochdale through to our Town Centre and the other crucial transport services we need.”

Lis Phelan, Chair of The Yes Campaign said: “This is a disappointing result but the challenge now is to look to the future. Greater Manchester has just turned down some real protection from the recession.

Local No Campaign spokesman Malcolm Journeaux said: "It appears even after such a resounding rejection the Yes Campaigners are still deluding themselves. The no was nothing to do with the current economic cilmate, it was a simple no by the people to being blackmailed; a no to yet another stealth tax.

"As for protection from the recession, absolute poppycock, the congestion charge would have heaped more pain on already overburdened businesses, and that would have led to job losses and made the recession longer and deeper, and put this region at a huge disadvantage to other regions.

"Hopefully the words of Council Leader Alan Taylor are more than rhetoric and the local authorities of the region will now press the government, as they should, to fund improvements needed in the public transport infrastructure in Greater Manchester.

"Not to do so having identified the need and campaigned so hard on the necessity would be morally indefensible and could cost the government, and those local authorities who backed the government blackmail, dearly at the next elections."

Conservative councillor Ashley Dearnley said: “We have had such strong public opinion and a clear message has been sent to the Government that we do not want the congestion charge.

“We are being taxed enough already, and the voters obviously feel strongly about it.

He added: “It is very pleasing to see over half of Rochdale voting, hopefully it demonstrates how people are becoming more interactive.”

Rochdale Labour Parliamentary Candidate, Simon Danczuk, said he was disappointed with the outcome but: “The people have spoken and their wish has to be respected in a democracy.”

Leader of the Labour party Colin Lambert said: "Congestion is and will remain a serious issue, but you will not resolve the issues with the proposals you botched together under the TIF Bid.

"We all have the common agenda, which is to have a first class public transport system across England. It must be excellent, it must be efficient, it must be convenient, and it must be affordable, it must also be locally accountable."



The results

Bolton
199,819 (Electorate)
48.8% (Turnout)
Yes 20,529 
No 76,910

Bury 
140,441 
57.4% 
Yes 16,563 
No 64,001

Manchester City 
340,730 
46.1% 
Yes 43,593 
No 113,064

Oldham 
159,328 
54.4% 
Yes 17,571 
No 68,884

Rochdale 
155,830 
50.8% 
Yes 17,333 
No 61,686

Salford 
164,982 
57% 
Yes 14,603 
No 79,326

Stockport 
216,973 
59% 
Yes 24,090 
No 103,706

Tameside 
164,062 
60.7% 
Yes 16,323 
No 83,105

Trafford 163,677 
63.3% 
Yes 20,445 
No 83,568

Wigan 
235,043 
45.3% 
Yes 27,810 
No 78,565