CAMPAIGNERS in favour of the congestion charge have launched a poster campaign featuring real Manchester commuters - but they have selected people who don't drive into the city centre.
We revealed last year how pro-charge transport chiefs created four fake case studies of apparently local people to promote the scheme - including someone called `Terry from Rochdale' who turned out to be a 22-year-old American model called Erich Dalke.
The fictional names and quotations accompanied images of other smiling American models.
But the new adverts from the Yes Campaign show real Manchester people and explains the reasons they will not have to pay the congestion charge.
Pensioner Tommy Walsh, 76, lives in Withington. He won't have to pay because he takes the bus into the city centre for shopping and a bite to eat.
He said: "I travel by bus after peak time. I go mid-morning and have lunch and a pint before coming back at 4pm.
"Bus trips can take ages and it's murder going down Wilmslow Road. It took me 40 minutes to get from the Manchester Royal Infirmary to town the other day. When the £3bn funding comes, they should use it to lower the access on buses. And once we get the bus lanes, it will be speedier."
Sam Liptrott is a mum-of-two, from Godley, near Hyde. The 32-year-old won't pay the charge because she always takes the train into Manchester.
She says it is quicker and avoids the hassle of searching for a parking space.
Legal secretary Sam said: "I find taking the train to Piccadilly easier than driving in.
"I'm lucky living near Newton for Hyde train station so I can drop the kids off and jump on the train.
"If the congestion charge goes ahead and we get more funding, hopefully there will be more regular trains with more carriages. I get a seat three out of five days on the way to work, but some trains are just too crammed."
The posters also feature a shopper, a football fan and a mother and child who travel by bus and explain why none of them will pay the charge alongside the slogan `nine out of 10 people won't pay'.
Last year, Greater Manchester Future Transport was accused of misleading motorists after sending leaflets showing the fake case studies to 2.5 million homes in Greater Manchester.
But Chris Palmer of the Yes Campaign said: "Ours are real people who live locally and are members of the campaign. The key issue for us is that there is a lot of mis-information and we are keen to get over the message that 9-out-of-10 will not have to pay the charge but 10-out-of-10 will be affected by the £3bn which will improve transport and clear congestion."
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MsD, Manchester (27/09/2008 at 07:08)
PW, Manchester (27/09/2008 at 08:22)
The campaign is deliberately misleading, saying only 1 in 10 journeys will pay. They don't mention that those are all people trying to earn their living. It's also quite obvious to most that if you get the bus, train or tram you wouldn't have to pay. How patronising.
I'm still worried how their scheme will even pay for itself with the boasted numbers who won't pay the tax. But I know the answer, and it's obvious. With the apparatus set up, they can flick a switch and charge everyone all day, and/or simply increase the price. Yes I know "There are currently no plans to extend the charge as the scheme is set out on the table" THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING. They CAN and WILL change that, should the deterrence effect of the con charge work. You will see. The answer really is not to let it get off the ground.
neil sk6 (27/09/2008 at 10:03)
Also I am puzzled at who will be paying back this loan if only 1 out of 10 will pay?????
Mark,Radcliffe. (27/09/2008 at 10:04)
Munkey Boy (27/09/2008 at 11:33)
Erm, could it be the 1 in 10 who do pay that pay back the loan? It's not that hard to understand, surely?
bluetony (27/09/2008 at 14:45)
Not complicated is it?
Oh and by the way Tommy, I wonder how smug you will be when Stagecoach shove up their fares as soon as the charge comes in? If you don't think that will happen, then wake yourself up. Once they think they've got a captive audience, they'll go for it.
Everyone will LOSE out if the CON charge comes in. Vote NO!!
Frostee, Oldham (27/09/2008 at 15:00)
They are certainly spending a lot of money in the advertising to try to get people to vote YES. Are they getting worried?
The Truth The Whole Truth And Nothing But The Truth (27/09/2008 at 15:06)
The GMPTA and Local Government bodies are not allowed by act of parliament to own or operate public transport vehicles.
The man on the stand just could not tell me who will own all the extra buses and trams that part of the TIF money will buy. Will they be just "given" to the private sector operators? After all, somebody or other will have ownership of the vehicles, so this begs the question will the private operators get richer using assets given to them on a plate?
I think an answer to the "ownership question" should be demanded from the councils.
ebble, manchester (27/09/2008 at 16:48)
I'm paying for this yes campaign!
PW, Manchester (27/09/2008 at 17:04)
AlexisV (27/09/2008 at 17:21)
Everybody knows whether they'll be paying or not. It's not you have a 90% chance of not paying - you either pay or you don't.
dave pickup (27/09/2008 at 17:46)
Tell a big enough lie,repeat it often and eventually it will become the truth.
Sir Reginald Ringpull, A-u-L, Lancashire (27/09/2008 at 17:52)
"Chris Palmer of the Yes Campaign said: "Ours are real people who live locally and are members of the campaign. The key issue for us is that there is a lot of mis-information and we are keen to get over the message that 9-out-of-10 will not have to pay the charge but 10-out-of-10 will be affected by the £3bn which will improve transport and clear congestion."
Very true Chris! Lots of mis-information out here, there is some in the above quote of yours, Like: £3 Billion for transport inprovements! £1.18 billion for Trams, £363 million for Buses, £149 million for Rail Refurbishments, Which you will find is £1,692 Million (Long way short of £3billion). There are other costs, but they are needed to pay for "Advisors - Experts" etc which is over £220 milion and then there is the £320 millon costs of the infrastucture to be able to charge us . Which still leaves nearly £900,000,000 short of "Your" £3 BILLION.
As to "Clear Congestion" - you are having a laff aren't you?
nomoneyleft, oldham (27/09/2008 at 18:19)
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (27/09/2008 at 19:04)
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (27/09/2008 at 19:11)
enlightened (27/09/2008 at 21:18)
Rachel, Bolton (27/09/2008 at 22:26)
Gary Burrows (27/09/2008 at 23:25)
They are trying to hoodwink people into thinking that they will not have to pay anything. Fine but most people working in the city centre are on low pay. Most are not going to be able to afford the Con-Charge. They will be forced onto public transport. And there will be shortfalls in the finances.
So our cheerful friends in the posters had better brace themselves for higher fares and council taxes.
Also I checked out some of the individuals telling us to vote yes for the Con-charge and at least one has his official work place in Liverpool.
Sparky was the best ever (27/09/2008 at 23:32)
Sparky was the best ever (27/09/2008 at 23:35)
"Also I am puzzled at who will be paying back this loan if only 1 out of 10 will pay?"
Erm, could it be the 1 in 10 who do pay that pay back the loan? It's not that hard to understand, surely? <-**
I think he was trying to ask HOW will it ever get paid back?
Sadly, it will be paid back by those forced to pay, paying dearly.
By the way: The fix is clearly in. A 1 sided campaign of BS will swing the vote accordingly.
Parkie161 (27/09/2008 at 23:38)
Sparky was the best ever (27/09/2008 at 23:45)
I will have to pay the congestion charge, because I don't live near a train station and the 3 buses I'd need would take 3 hours each way and my job involves driving in and out of the city on a regular basis.
Or maybe: -
I won't have to pay the congestion charge, because my boss laid me off, due to a sales dropped off with people avoiding traveling in the zone and delivery costs shooting up because the delivery companies pass on their zone fees.
How about: -
I won't have to pay the congestion charge, because it was so much cheaper to do business outside the zone, my competition took my customers and my company went bust, so I work for them now, OUTSIDE the zone.
Buzz, Moston (28/09/2008 at 00:24)
Even people who never travel into the city will pay indirectly as the cost incurred by companies will be passed onto them via price increases.
S P In exile, Tameside (28/09/2008 at 00:57)
Also she says “there will be more regular trains with more carriages“………Dream on!!