OLDHAM residents could give an overwhelming ‘no’ to the congestion charge when it goes to the public vote.
Survey specialists MORI has looked at the comments of 81,000 people across Greater Manchester who responded to a consultation leaflet pushed through their doors.
In Oldham, just 926 of the 5,846 people who responded thought well of the proposals, with nearly twice as many – 1,841 – giving the whole idea the thumbs down. It was a similar outcome across the county.
MORI has, however, stressed that not all of those saying ‘no’ were against all aspects of the scheme, and many who said ‘yes’ were against certain aspects of the scheme.
For example, criticisms of the existing public transport system would be classed as a negative response.
Nevertheless, ‘Stop The Bid’ campaigners say the figures are a "clear rejection" of congestion charging.
But the ‘yes’ campaigners say people who oppose the proposal were four times more likely to respond to the consultation organised by Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive.
Both sides will be now battling to win over the 40,988 people – more than half of respondents – who could not be easily classified as either positive or negative.
The bid would see more than £2.75bn invested in public transport – courtesy of the Government’s Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) – including £318m to set up a peak hour, weekday-only congestion charge.
Some £1.2bn of the total would be in the form of a loan, paid back over 30 years out of profits from the charge.
Some motorists could avoid paying the proposed congestion charge for local journeys if amended plans to the scheme are adopted tomorrow.
Oldham Council leader Howard Sykes will attend a meeting of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities to discuss the new proposals which are the final results of the public consultation on plans to charge motorists to drive into Manchester city centre from 2013.
The proposed outer charging ring, initially suggested as the M60, has now been amended in the Failsworth/Hollinwood area. It would be re-routed around Greengate industrial park, Semple Way, the proposed park and ride facility at Hollinwood station, and Roman Road, where drivers taking pupils to Kaskenmoor and New Bridge schools from outside the M60 will not incur a charge.
A proposed cap on the charge would mean all vehicles pay a maximum of £5 per day, even for multiple crossings, and there would be a 20 per cent discount for low paid workers.
Disabled drivers, motorcyclists, emergency and registered recovery vehicles, and those attending medical appointments would all be exempt.
Cllr Sykes’ campaign to ensure private hire taxis and black hackney cabs are not charged also looks set for the green light.
Bus fares would also be capped if congestion charging is brought in. Prices are likely to be simplified with the introduction of two new bands – one for short journeys and a standard fare for all other trips – while further capped fares are also planned allowing unlimited travel for two hours, one day or a week.
But the raft of new amendments still do not satisfy opposition parties in Oldham.
Labour says it accepts the charging principle but "only to tackle congestion and not to raise revenue" and wants to scrap the M60 as an outer boundary.
Cllr Dave Hibbert said: "The information put out by the council is factually incorrect in saying that only drivers travelling into Manchester will suffer the charge. The council is happy to have Failsworth in the borough when they come with council tax demands but not so keen when trying to convince the rest of Oldham to vote ‘Yes’ in the referendum."
Conservatives began collecting signatures for their ‘No’ petition this week and claim that – even with the new boundary changes – 95 per cent of Failsworth residents will still pay the charge.
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