Big guns are backing the Yes-vote brigade

MORE than 225 firms have pledged their support for Greater Manchester’s proposed public transport revolution — and the controversial congestion charge.

The employers include big businesses such as Norwich Union, The Co-operative Group and British Airways.

The North West TUC has also come out in support of the Yes Campaign for next month’s referendum on the £3billion Transport Innovation Fund (TIF), which will bring trams through the centre of Oldham and more frequent buses, but be partly paid for by a peak-time congestion charge in and out of Manchester.

TUC regional secretary, Alan Manning, described the proposals as: “A copper-bottomed insurance policy for the region as the country faces a deep recession.”

He added: “The £3 billion investment in our transport system will create 10,000 new jobs and will provide a major boost for the local economy. The TUC feels that this investment is more important now than it ever has been.”

Lynda Shillaw, managing director of The Co-operative Estates, the group’s land and property arm, said: “The Co-operative Group has an enviable reputation for leading on ethical and environmental issues.

“An investment of up to £3billion in improvements to public transport, cycling and walking, and greater control of our road network, will pay environmental dividends for generations to come. And in these difficult economic times it will be a boon to employment in the region.”

Chris Oglesby of United City, the business division of the Yes campaign said: “The strength of support across the city region as we go into the referendum is hugely encouraging.

“All of these businesses have a substantial presence here in Greater Manchester. Manchester Business School has put the potential multiplier effect of this investment as being worth £10 billion overall to the local economy.

“A Yes vote next month will be a major boost to our local economy as we face recession. No charging will be introduced until at least 80 per cent of the transport investment is in place — 2013 at the earliest.

“TIF will leave us fantastically well placed with a world class transport system to face the economic challenges of the next decade.”

Other businesses backing the bid include House of Fraser, Manchester Metropolitan University, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s Fresh Retail Ventures and Salford-based Hanlon Fencing.

But the No Campaign, spearheaded by The Tax Payers’ Alliance, Drivers Against Road Tolls and Drivers’ Alliance, say many local businesses are against the congestion charge as it will increase costs.

It claims struggling families would have to fork out up to £1,200 a year to pay the charge.