HOTEL bosses and city centre pub and club owners have been won over to the idea of congestion charging.

The Manchester City Centre Club and Pub Network - which a month ago called the idea `ludicrous' - has now welcomed the proposals.

And the Manchester Hoteliers' Association which represents 40 city hotels says in a letter to the M.E.N. today that it supports the bid, as long as public transport improvements are in place before charging starts.

The debate has raged ever since the M.E.N. first revealed in February that Greater Manchester wanted to offer itself as a pilot for congestion charging in return for £3bn of transport improvements, including extensions to Metrolink.

The Club and Pub Network represents more than 550 pubs, clubs, bars and restaurants in the city centre and feared initially that charging would send revellers elsewhere.

But now, licensees, owners and managers have been reassured that proposed charges would not affect the city centre leisure economy.

Sir Howard Bernstein, council chief executive and clerk to Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, outlined how the extra investment could lead to Metrolink expansions, improved trains and more frequent and better quality bus services.

Network spokesman Phil Burke said today: "It's fair to say there was initial confusion over the details of the charging. And people genuinely felt concerned that they wanted to hear firm pledges to put public transport improvements in place before charging began, which we got."

Network chairman Andy O'Dwyer said: "The Manchester scheme is different from London's charge, which hits anyone in the central zone. Greater Manchester's charge would not target the vast majority of people coming into the city centre. And because it would only affect the most congested routes at their busiest times only, there would be no charges coming into the city centre at weekends.

"On weekdays, people would only pay to come into town in the morning rush hour, and not at all after 9.30am for the rest of the day and right through the evening and night."

"The only drinkers to be hit would be those coming into the city centre for a drink at early morning rush hour - and it's best we don't encourage that!"

The Network was also reassured to learn that other activities bringing people into the city centre would also escape a charge - these include weekend shopping, evening and weekend football and other sports events and entertainment.

There would be discounts for vulnerable groups and essential service vehicles would not be charged. The fact that leisure sector workers tend not to travel at peak times is another factor influencing the Network.

Mr O'Dwyer said: "Overall, the arguments that the transport proposals will help the economy grow are persuasive.

"In fact, there is a case to be made that changing work and travel patterns could mean a much more even spread of leisure activity throughout the working day, helping our businesses issues with `down times' during the day."

Hotel association chairman Stephen Miles says: "We share the authorities' vision of Greater Manchester's future transport."