‘Vote no’ Tory petition off to a strong start

SUPPORT ... From left, Councillor Philip Rogers, Councillor Ian Barker, Grace Barker, Liz Regan and Vincent Bradley signing the petition, Kamran Ghafoor, Councillor Len Quinn and Lewis Quigg.

OLDHAM’S Conservatives say their bid to drive away the congestion charge is well supported by the public.

In only two hours on Saturday, Tory councillors collected 200 signatures on a petition in Chadderton.

It was the beginning of their campaign to say no to the controversial charge with petitions also due to be started in other areas, including Failsworth, Saddleworth, Shaw and Royton.

They claim that more than 95 per cent of Failsworth residents will have to pay the charge.
Councillors Paul Martin (Failsworth East) and Ian Barker (Failsworth West) say Failsworth folk will suffer more than any others in Oldham because they are inside the M60 motorway, the charging point for road traffic.

They said: “The Conservatives are against the charge, full stop. Any boundary change would not change our policy on this.

“But what we would have sought, if the residents of Greater Manchester voted yes to the charge, is that at the very least, Failsworth is brought in line with the rest of the borough.

“We see that businesses will not pay the charge, and yet while we support local businesses, what about the residents of Failsworth?

“We feel extremely let down by this, and this has given us even more determination to get out there and campaign against this Labour stealth tax.”

A referendum takes place next month on the proposed £3billion Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) that would bring major improvements to public transport, including trams through the heart of Oldham town centre and more frequent buses.

But it also means the congestion charge being brought in at peak times in and out of Manchester.

Councillor Philip Rogers said that people signing the petition were annoyed that the Government was bringing in a “stealth tax” on already overburdened motorists.

He said if the Government want people to use public transport they should subsidise bus and rail companies.

He added: “The petition went very well. As soon as people saw the ‘No to the Congestion Charge’ banner they were coming over to us to add their name. It was brilliant.”

He said high bus prices would still mean people using their cars rather than public transport.

Councillor Len Quinn said the charge would mean shops and businesses increasing prices because of having to pay the charge.