Anti c-charge campaigners see a good omen

Date published: 17/06/2008

Anti congestion charge campaigners 'Manchester Against Road Tolls' see the results of a recent survery as a good omen for those who oppose the plan for road tolls in Greater Manchester.

The publication of an independent poll of 1,000 people shows fewer than a third support the congestion charge proposals and 86% want to have a referendum on the issue.

Chief Executive of Manchester City Council Howard Bernstein responded to the survey by saying that this type of response was expected at this stage and that opinions may change when they know more about the billions of spending on public transport, details of which will be revealed during an extended public consultation, to take place over the coming months.

Manchester Against Road Tolls spokesman John McGoldrick compared the Manchester plans to a failed scheme in Edinburgh. He said: "Despite what is suggested by advocates of this "Congestion charge" scheme, the proposed tolls in Edinburgh were also presented as a package with transport spending.

"The people there were subject to a massive spin campaign from the City Council, and the ballot paper was accompanied by a glossy leaflet showing all the goodies that the city would get if they said yes.

"Will the people in the Manchester city region be given a similar chance to vote on this?"