OPPONENTS of congestion charging have mounted a last-ditch bid to change the decision.

They claim that council leaders do not have a public mandate or the support of business to advance and must go back to the drawing board.

A poll carried out on behalf of Trafford Centre owners Peel Holdings concluded that 80 per cent of businesses were opposed to the plans. A poll commissioned by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) showed 50 per cent of people surveyed were against the plans. And the latest Manchester Chamber of Commerce poll revealed 57 per cent of businesses were against the proposals.

The Federation of Small Business is also opposed, with 94 per cent of the members polled voting no to the scheme.

Road Haulage Association spokesman Geoff Dunning, said: "We object strongly to the decision to add to the already excessive tax burden that the UK's haulage industry must bear." A spokesman for the Transport and General Workers Union claims the charge `will penalise workers in the city centre and have a massive impact on jobs'.

Peel Holdings, who have led the fight against the charge and suggested selling the council-owned Manchester Airport to finance public transport improvements, believe congestion charging will damage the region's economy. Peel managing director Andrew Simpson said: "This new tax on drivers will have devastating consequences on the local economy. It will hit profits, suppliers will be driven away and recruiting new staff will become more difficult.

"We have been campaigning against congestion charging because of the hugely damaging consequences we believe it will have. As a result we would urge AGMA to look again at their proposals, listen to the business community they claim to support and not to submit a bid."

Protest group Manchester Against Road Tolls has collected a petition with more than 13,000 names. A spokesman said: "The Draft Local Transport Bill could mean local authorities who think they can back out further down the line are not able to do so. The only way to ensure road charging does not go ahead is for the bid not to be submitted."