Council chiefs have until the end of the month to decide whether to bid for £3bn government cash to improve public transport in return for becoming a pilot area for road pricing.
Under the proposals, motorists face paying up to £5 a day to drive in and out of the centre of Manchester.
The M.E.N is arranging a debate on the issue next Tuesday, which will be held at Urbis and will be televised by our sister TV station Channel M.
Readers are invited to take part in a discussion about one of the most important issues facing the region.
Confirmed on the panel is Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester Council and one of the leaders of the bid team.
Sir Richard will debate with Graham Stringer, his predecessor as city council leader, now MP for Blackley and a member of the Commons transport committee and a fierce opponent of charging.
Also opposing the charging proposal will be Andrew Simpson who, as managing director of Trafford Centre owners Peel Holdings, is one of the most powerful men in the region.
Representing the ordinary drivers will be Sean Corker, who leads the pressure group Manchester Against Road Tolls, which has launched a petition against the idea.
The M.E.N has consistently led the way in reporting the plans by the 10 Greater Manchester councils to transform the way we travel to work.
Other members of the panel have yet to be confirmed and M.E.N. readers are invited to join the audience and put their own questions and comments to the experts. The debate will start at 7pm.
Click here to see a map of the c-charge zones.
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Simon B, www.manchestertolltax.com (11/07/2007 at 10:46)
I have seen him in action, he is a man not be underestimated.
He will use the "Doing nothing is not an option" line.
The "if we do not go for this when national road pricing comes, we will have lost 3 billion pounds of investment"
But no one party would dare as it is election suicide.
He will say we are in compition with other cities for the money.
Birmingham has gone very very cold on the idea.
He will scaremonger by saying that selling the airport will raise council tax by 20 percent.
Wrong, the interest on the money from the sale alone will bring nearly 5 times more money.
Of the money they are after, 3 billion, 2 billion is a loan.
Oh, and its AGMA/GMPTA/GMPTE that is asking for the loan off their own back, the government has not offered the extra cash yet, its is AGMA/GMPTA/GMPTE is asking for the 2 billion debt.
He says by losing it will cost 30000 new jobs, forgetting to mention by doing nothing we will still get 180000 new jobs.
Andrew Simpson of Peel Holdings says bringing in the charge will be a massive risk for Greater Manchester.
This man knows what he is talking about.
My own opinion is we will loose jobs from the ones we already have if Richard Leese and his Cohorts get their way.
It has already started.
Business is already moving out of the M60, William BMW is moving the Bolton the escape the charge.
Ask your self this, if you were a business person, why would you come to Congestion Charge Greater Manchester, when Leeds and Liverpool are Congestion Charge free, you will have big trouble recruiting in Greater Manchester, your delivery costs will be higher. You would not come.