CAMPAIGNERS on both sides of the congestion charge debate have welcomed a decision to hold a referendum on the issue.

As reported in later editions of the M.E.N, leaders of the 10 local councils in Greater Manchester agreed that a poll should take place.

The results will be broken down on a borough-by-borough basis and only if people in seven out of the 10 authorities vote `yes' will congestion charges be imposed.

The government is offering Greater Manchester up to £3bn for public transport improvements in return for the peak hour-only charge of up to £10 a day.

The referendum is likely to take place in December and be carried out by post. A small group of council leaders will work with officers and the independent Electoral Reform Society to decide on the wording of the question that will be put on the voting slips.

Richard Critchley, policy manager for transport at the Greater Manchester Chamber, said: "This is the sensible way forward on what is a highly important issue for Greater Manchester's future."

Chris Wermann, of the anti-charge business alliance Greater Manchester Momentum Group, said: "This is the best possible result for Greater Manchester.

Campaigned

"We have campaigned very actively to ensure everyone had the right to vote on a scheme which we believe will be bad for business and commuters.

"This approach will guarantee the views of residents in every borough count.

"We will now campaign strongly for a `no' vote on current proposals, but acknowledge we all have a role to play in managing future congestion as well as putting forward workable ideas for managing congestion and funding public transport improvements."

A spokesman for the pro-charge business group United City, said: "United City will ensure that our members' view that good public transport is vital for business is heard loud and clear.

"While we wait to see the detail of the referendum process from the public authorities, we will also continue to seek amendments to the proposals in accordance with our members' wishes.

"We also wish to ensure that the total package is fair, transparent and delivers the maximum economic, social and environmental benefits possible."

The form of the referendum was agreed yesterday at a meeting of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities - an umbrella body of the 10 councils.

Manchester council leader Sir Richard Leese, who supports the charge-for-£3bn deal, said: "I am confident that when the people of Greater Manchester look at what is on offer - and at a congestion charge that very few of them will ever pay - they will come to a conclusion it is a very good deal indeed.

"One that will secure the long term future of Greater Manchester, and one that will help us weather the economic down turn we are experiencing because of the amount of work that will created."

Susan Williams, Tory leader of Trafford council - which is against congestion charging - said: "I think this referendum will draw a line once and for all whether people want congestion charging or not."

Stockport and Bury are also opposed. Bolton had pledged to have its own referendum and the other six Greater Manchester councils are in favour of the charge.

John McGoldrick, a spokesman for the National Alliance Against Tolls, said: "Any sort of vote is considerably better than the scheme being bulldozed through by the authorities.

"But these polls are not subject to any rules and it means that the authorities can continue to spend millions on their promotion campaign.

"It is completely misleading for them to give the impression that this will be a fair and unbiased referendum with both sides being treated the same, though we expect that, as in Edinburgh, the majority of people will see through the glossy brochures from the authorities and the TV ads."

A 14-week consultation period on the charge will end on October 10th.

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