Do you agree with the Transport Innovation Fund proposals?

That’s the question to be put to voters — with no mention of the C-charge

THERE will be no mention of congestion charging in the referendum question to be put to the people of Oldham in December.

A yes vote would see drivers charged up to £5 a day to drive in and out of Manchester in return £3bn of public transport improvements — including Metrolink trams in Oldham town centre — paid for by the Government’s Transport Innovation Fund and borrowing against the proceeds of what would be Britain’s biggest road pricing scheme.

But the question will only ask:

“Do you agree with the Transport Innovation Fund proposals?”

Voters will be invited simply to say yes or no.

Around 2.5 million people will be sent leaflets explaining details of the plan and a preamble which says: “Please read the leaflet enclosed with this ballot paper which provides details of the Greater Manchester Transport Innovation Fund proposals.

“These involve both major investment in public transport improvements in Greater Manchester and a weekday, peak time only, charging scheme.

“Congestion charging would only be introduced after 80 per cent of the public transport improvements are in place and not before the summer of 2013.”

It has been drawn up by Sir Neil McIntosh, the independent returning officer for the referendum, with advice from experienced lawyers and guided by the Electoral Commission.

Sir Neil met with a sub group of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities executive board last week to present his proposals.

He will now submit his recommended question to the next meeting of the board on October 31 where the leaders of the 10 Greater Manchester Authorities are expected to approve it.

Sir Neil said: “I believe this is a fair, clear and balanced question.

“In drawing it up I had to ensure that it accurately reflected fundamental aspects of the proposals and did not lead people in one direction or the other.

“I concluded that a straightforward ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ question was the easiest to understand.

“However, I consider that it is also necessary for this to be accompanied by accurate neutral information explaining the proposals.”

The papers will arrive on doormats at the end of November and will have to be returned by December 11.


Sir Neil is Mr Impartial
SIR Neil McIntosh has a fine line to tread between yes and no — and is well-practised in not giving a clue which side of the fence he’s on.

The returning officer for the transport referendum was Electoral Commissioner for Scotland until recently, was chief counting officer for the Scottish Parliamentary Referendum in 1997, and returning officer for the Strathclyde Water referendum.

He said: “It is not necessarily the question that campaigners wanted to ask but I hope they will see it as objective.

“The importance of the returning officer is his independence and objectivity as well as the integrity of the process,” said the 68-year-old Glaswegian grandfather.

So sensitive is his position that he declined to be photographed in front of a Metrolink tram lest it suggest support for any campaign group.

n Chadderton Labour councillor Dave Hibbert will be taking a close look at the outcome of the congestion charge vote on behalf of the 2.5 million people in Greater Manchester.

He has been appointed a joint chairman of the scrutiny group of members of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities.


A CHADDERTON councillor will be taking a close look at the congestion charge vote on behalf of 2.5 million people in Greater Manchester, writes Janice Barker

Labour Councillor Dave Hibbert has been appointed a joint chairman of the scrutiny group of members of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA).

The scrutiny pool has 30 members and Councillor Hibbert will share the chairmanship with Councillor Simon Ashley, the Liberal Democrat leader on Manchester City Council.

Councillor Ashley will study the AGMA budget, while Councillor Hibbert will oversee transport issues comprising the Transport Innovation Fund bid, the ballot on the congestion charge, and the implementation of the outcome of the vote whatever the result.

He said: “Whether we go for it or not there are massive implications and transport still has to be developed with or without the congestion charge.”


Lis tells shoppers why they should vote Yes

THE leader of the “Yes” campaign was taking her message to the streets of Oldham today.

Chairman Lis Phelan was meeting shoppers and handing out leaflets to get across the transport improvements the £3billion investment will bring.

She was telling shoppers it would bring trams into the heart of Oldham town centre, see extra bus services at peak times, bring better provision for cyclists and school children and improve safety. Lis said: “Bringing Metrolink into Oldham town centre will be a major boost to the regeneration of the town and will attract many new people to work, shop and visit there.

“We are explaining to people that almost everyone in Oldham will benefit from the new trams, trains and buses, while the impact of the congestion charge will be minimal.

Nine out of ten people won’t pay a charge at all.”


Do you think the question to go to voters is a fair one or a fudge?

E-mail us your views to news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk