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Leader says C-charge poll question is fair
Reporter: Marina Berry
Date online: 22/10/2008
OLDHAM council is backing the wording of a suggested congestion charge referendum question, dubbed by business leaders as “jargon,” and lacking in information.
The question which sparked controversy is:
Do you agree with the Transport Innovation Fund proposals?
YES, I VOTE FOR THE PROPOSALS
NO, I VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSALS
Oldham council leader Howard Sykes says the question is “clear and fair,” and will enable people to make their views known on the proposal to transform public transport.
But business leaders say a poll carried out on their behalf revealed more than half of Oldham residents were not even aware of this summer’s public consultation.
Councillor Sykes said the wording of the question enabled him to press for more details of what exactly the bid meant for local residents, and allowed for further discussion on issues such as moving the charge boundary so people could make charge-free local journeys to drop children off at school or get to work.
He urged all Oldhamers to use their vote to make their opinion known on what is a vital decision that will have a momentous impact on the future of transport across Greater Manchester.
The dispute follows the unveiling of returning officer Sir Neil McIntosh’s suggested question for the December referendum.
Business alliance the Greater Manchester Momentum Group (GMMG), says its reference to the “Transport Innovation Fund” with no mention of a congestion charge would mean little to many people who didn’t even know about the consultation.
An October telephone poll of 5,000 residents across Greater Manchester, including 500 in Oldham, by independent pollsters Populus, revealed 52 per cent of those surveyed in Oldham weren’t aware a public consultation had actually taken place, and only nine per cent had taken part.
A spokesman for GMMG said: “We feel the question itself - not just the introduction - must make clear reference to both the transport improvements and the congestion charge and the language must be clear.”
Have Your Say
We are getting the metro anyway,why add a little more track at such a high cost to Oldhamers? Vote NO
The real question is - Do you trust these people with more of your hard earned cash.
With no mention of the STEALTH TAX that is the proposed congestion charge, devious and deceitful would be a better description of the referendum question. What exactly is this 'bid' that Coun Sykes worries about on behalf of local residents? We should return the question to the returning officer, turn him around and return him to the guvmint Spin academy.
The question should state:
Do you want to vote for a 12km farce of metrolink, and if this congestion charge goes ahead
then as the scheme as partly taken on the ideas of London congestion charge, you soon may have to pay for just having your own car, even if you don't use the car?
Do you want to vote for the lies of the scheme that it is actually £2.8 billion the other £20,000 million only the city council members know what happend.
Do you want loose upto £1200 per year.
By Shallwego4 @ 22/10/2008 14:38:42
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