THE 'no' vote is likely to have a massive impact on the business community.

Following nearly 2 years of campaigning against a congestion charge, Paul Henly, North West policy manager for the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Today's results reflects both the publics' and the business community's refusal to be held to ransom over public transport improvements. It is a total vindication of our stand against a further road tax.

“AGMA should now respect the wishes of the people of Greater Manchester and we urge them to withdraw the current transport proposals at their meeting in a week's time.

“The FSB has always supported transport improvements and will continue to do so. However, raising the money for these changes through a punitive charge would have defeated the object.

“It is now up to AGMA to find another way to deliver a transport network that will benefit everyone. The FSB look forward to working with them and the wider business sector to achieve this.”

C-charge: It's No

Malcolm Edge, chairman of KPMG in the North, said: “I am immensely disappointed that this opportunity to improve our local infrastructure, boosting our local economy and improving both the environment and quality of life within Greater Manchester, has been lost. While there's no doubt that we're already a world class city, this funding would have allowed us to take the steps necessary to ensure we continue to punch above our weight on the global stage.

“However, it is accepted that this has always been a complex and emotive debate. With the public now coming to terms with the prospect of economic recession, the potential increased cost of travel that the congestion charge would bring was always going to be difficult to embrace. The city must now look towards a plan 'B' to ensure that the much-needed improvements to our transport infrastructure still go ahead.”

Jo Sellick, MD of Manchester-based recruitment consultancy, Sellick Partnership, said: “As the MD of an owner managed business I am probably in the minority in voting yes for the charge. Along with all the well reasoned arguments for and against, my standpoint is purely on the added investment for public transport across Greater Manchester, which will only benefit from the introduction of the charge and will regenerate the Greater Manchester area a as whole.”

Nick Davenport, senior partner at Turner Parkinson law firm, said: “I am delighted to see that sense has prevailed. Like so many well intentioned proposals from those who govern us it was always likely that the outcome would be different from that planned. I am glad that Manchester business will not now be part of a transport experiment that may well have failed.