MANCHESTER could lose £3billion investment in our public transport because of opposition to a proposed congestion charge.

That was the message at a public meeting in the city called to discuss the controversial charge, which would bring new extensions to the Metrolink as well as 120 new buses, extra rail carriages and pedestrian and cycle paths.

Labour councillor Andrew Fender, a member of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, explains in the YouTube video clip above how a massive extension of the Metrolink to Didsbury, Oldham and Rochdale, Droylsden and Ashton is part of the congestion charge deal.

“We cannot have this scale of investment without the congestion charge,” he said.

Rob Adlard, from Manchester Conservatives, explains in the YouTube video clip below that his party opposes the congestion charge because it discredits ‘green taxes’, is economically flawed and represents a government attempt at ‘blackmail’.

Unfortunately, the anti-congestion charge Momentum Group pulled out of attending the public meeting at the last minute. Its PR firm, Communique apparently did not offer any explanation.

Sound Communication has meanwhile joined United City - the business umbrella group which is supporting the Transport Innovation Fund proposal to invest £3billion in public transport in Greater Manchester, through the congestion charge.

We believe the plan will:

• ease congestion
• make Greater Manchester a cleaner, greener place to live and work
• create thousands more jobs in public transport and new transport infrastructure
• help tackle climate change

Below, in the final YouTube video clip Councillor Fender and Mr Adlard clash over the proposals.

Further Information links:

The United City web site

Clean Air Now - supports better public transport, pedestrian and cycle routes and a congestion charge