THE question to decide whether Greater Manchester gets a congestion charge will make no direct mention of the charge - or the transport improvements of almost £3bn it would unlock.
Instead, people will simply be asked in the referendum: 'Do you agree with the proposals?'
The voting papers are planned to go out at the end of next month with a closing date for votes of December 11.
The proposed question in the postal-only ballot will come with a leaflet containing brief details of the plans, which would mean more than £2.75bn being ploughed into transport - including £318m to set up a peak-hour, weekday congestion charge.
There will be a ‘preamble’ on the ballot paper which will mention both the charge and the vast sums of money for trams, trains and buses.
Susan Williams, leader of Trafford council, said the failure to mention the charge in the question itself was a glaring omission that could confuse voters about what they were voting for or against.
The voting pack tells voters: "Please read the leaflet enclosed with the ballot papers, which provide details of the Greater Manchester Transport Innovation Fund [TIF] proposal. This involves both major investment in public transport improvements in Greater Manchester and a weekday, peak-time only congestion charge scheme.
"Congestion charging would only be introduced after 80 per cent of public transport improvements are in place, and not before the summer of 2013'.
The question people will be asked will then be: `Do you agree with the TIF proposal?'
Sir Neil McIntosh, an independent expert, has drawn up the proposed form of the referendum.
His recommendation on the wording of the question will go before the leaders of Greater Manchester's councils for final approval at a meeting in Manchester town hall on October 31.
It will be accepted as long as seven out of the 10 authorities - who are deeply split on the issue of congestion charging - agree.
Sir Neil said: "I believe this is a fair, clear and balanced question."
Interactive timeline of the road charging proposal.
TIF documents released under the Freedopm of Information Act
Click here to read David Ottewell's politics blog
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
NS (20/10/2008 at 06:58)
Puzzling that the question has been revealed before it has been agreed by the AGMA committee on 31 October.
Will GMMG be allowed to have its points made in the leaflet?
(wetsocks), Manchester (20/10/2008 at 07:00)
And don't forget to tell all your public transport loving friends and relatives who don't have a car themselves, but call on you as a free taxi service when they need it.
PW, Manchester (20/10/2008 at 07:22)
shayla (20/10/2008 at 08:27)
It sounds like they are asking if you think their idea for transport improvements is a good one.
Not whether paying the congestion charge is worth the transport improvements.
Very misleading.
Even the question is out to con you!
By the time you have paid to get to work, it won't be worth going.
Peter Roberts, Telford (20/10/2008 at 08:33)
In contrast, when referring to the congestion charge with the wording "Congestion charging would only be introduced after 80% of the public transport improvements are in place and not before the summer of 2013" seems like an attempt to reduce anxiety about the charge thus making it as palatable as possible.
If we are to have a fair and democratic referendum on this issue, we need fair and unambiguous information to help voters make a decision.
By providing an information leaflet from the authorities behind the YES campaign and using positive reinforcement in the wording about the TIF proposals, there is a risk the ballot will not be seen as democratic or fair.
There is a genuine case against the proposals in the TIF bid and many reasons why it is a bad scheme. These objections must form part of the information campaign surrounding the bid and if the ballot is to be informed and truly democratic, must be aired equally and without prejudice".
Beaufort (20/10/2008 at 08:35)
I note yesterday that Alistair Darling is to divert money to new schemes in order to get the economy going and Crossrail is getting £30 bn to upgrade. Why can't we have a measily £3 bn for the TIF proposal rather than raiding us for more money through the charge?
Jay B, oldham (20/10/2008 at 08:45)
with all the gaps of information still not filled theis pack we'll be receiving will have to be pretty detailed.
if it doesnt make it all clear then the only answer is no.
Rt Hon Dr Rev MC Spanner MP QC FCA FRICS JP OK (20/10/2008 at 08:51)
More neutral unbiased reporting.
The question itself seems fair enough if accompanied by a balanced leaflet. If the leaflet is your standard GMfuturetransport biased leaflet, then a counter opinion needs to be added.
NS (20/10/2008 at 08:57)
The anti-charge Greater Manchester Momentum Group has commissioned a poll of 5,000 people, carried out by Populus.
It shows that 48 per cent of people were not aware that public consulation had taken place on the TIF bid. Only 11 per cent said they had taken part.
A GMMG spokesman said: “We employ thousands of ordinary people on ordinary wages who will be liable to pay congestion charges. We want the link between transport improvement investment and congestion charging to be very clear to them in the actual question, to ensure they know what they are voting for."
Jomov (20/10/2008 at 09:10)
PAH , Manchester (20/10/2008 at 09:19)
Andy2, Manchester (20/10/2008 at 09:28)
feston gonzalez (20/10/2008 at 09:47)
just vote no
Pigi, Manchester (20/10/2008 at 09:51)
£2530 to drive to work? I'd be better on the DOLE!!! - Paul Teeque (20/10/2008 at 09:57)
MISLEADING, UNFAIR, BIASED, CORRUPT - sums the whole stealth tax introduction up nicely.
Kev P, Manchester city centre (20/10/2008 at 10:00)
£2530 to drive to work? I'd be better on the DOLE!!! - Paul Teeque (20/10/2008 at 10:02)
Then they attach a leaflet with whatever the hell they want and load it to the brim with biased information.
If this is going to be the question we should be campaigning for WHATS WRITTEN IN THE LEAFLET!!!!!!!
Black Flag (20/10/2008 at 10:09)
There's no way that you could accurately summarise the whole proposal in one question, so the only sensible approach is to keep the question a simple and neutral as possible and provide a detailed summary of the proposal separately.
Kiwi-blue, Christchurch NZ (20/10/2008 at 10:11)
If you want a world class transport infrastructure, then vote 'YES'
If you want to continue wasting time with delays on the roads, rail and metrolink then vote 'NO'
Munkey Boy (20/10/2008 at 10:14)
So she's basically saying the people aren't intelligent enough to know the public transport investment isn't linked to the charge? I think we can give them a little more credit than that.
Mark,Radcliffe. (20/10/2008 at 10:16)
Beaufort (20/10/2008 at 10:18)
It was always a busy road but the traffic flowed along no problem, a bit of stop start but you were fine.
Last week I noticed that most of the two lane had been reduced to one to create a bus lane and where there wasn't a bus lane they had painted white crosses so you couldn't drive in it or they have widened the payment so suddenly the pavement juts out. More than anything it's a mess, a n eyesore. But why oh why have they done it? I didn't see a single bus and a ten minute journey in the car is now 25 minutes.
I hear that they do this to create congestion but all that does is creates more pollution which I though defeated the object. Very strange.
john berta (20/10/2008 at 10:21)
What are you all on about. You've had an information pack, websites and newspapers have been full of information about TIF and the congestion charge for months, yet your all still moaning you don't know what's involved. Please.
I see the anti's are also complaining because there's no mention of the charge. Everybody knows there's going to be a charge, so wht does it need to be mentioned? You don't hear the Pro TIF supporters moaning because there's no mention of the benefits TIF will bring to Manchester.
I wouldn't take to much notice of the latest poll from the antis. They along with Peel(a private company, who are only bothered about the Trafford Centre) have been misleading the public since their campaigns started.
Vote Yes for a truly worldclass intergrated transport network that will eventually(over the years) benefit every resident of Greater Manchester.
Alec (20/10/2008 at 10:29)
congestion charge plans.
Jay B, oldham (20/10/2008 at 10:35)
with the high costs of living and reduced amounts of pay being taken home i think people will realise we just cannot take another tax.
and yes if they did achieve the proposed reduced congestion into the city and everyone jumps onto public transport. where will the money come to pay back the loan?
they have now finally answered that question.
by any means nessasary, like higher prices of the charge or wider zones and even your council tax.
So if you all dont want to pay more tax then its a NO