Leader says C-charge poll question is fair
Reporter: Marina Berry
Date published: 22 October 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.”
