‘Yes’ and save £220; ‘No’ or pay out £1,200

Road toll campaigners disagree

CAMPAIGNERS say a ‘Yes’ vote in the public transport and congestion charge referendum will save bus users £220 a year.

The Yes Campaign says the promised 20 per cent saving on all public transport fares is equal to a day’s free travel each week.

The £3 billion Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) will bring public transport improvements, including trams through the centre of Oldham and more frequent buses, but will be partly paid for by a controversial peak-time congestion charge in and out of Manchester.

A huge publicity campaign is being waged by groups on both sides of the debate to sway public opinion before the referendum ends on December 11.

Yes campaigners have reviewed local fares and calculated that low paid workers commuting from Oldham will save 70p on a typical £3.70 day saver ticket.

With a daily System One multi-operator bus pass costing £4.30, the saving over 12 months would reach £220.

All public transport users will also receive additional savings through the proposed Manchester Oyster Card, an electronic travel card.

The ticket would work across all types of transport across all transport companies and would automatically cap fares for a day’s journeys and select any discounts available.

Yes Campaign chairman Lis Phelan said: “A ‘Yes’ vote in the current referendum will deliver cheaper fares for all across Greater Manchester. For low paid workers in Oldham, this could be as much as £220 per year — the same as riding free one day a week, giving a significant saving.

“The TIF package also includes a new fare structure for public transport in Greater Manchester, involving fare caps and simpler ticketing.”

The No campaign — orchestrated by the Tax Payers’ Alliance, Drivers Against Road Tolls and Drivers’ Alliance — says the congestion charge could cost families up to £1,200 a year.

OLDHAMERS are turning out in force to cast their votes in the transport referendum.

There are seven days left for people to have their say on whether they are in favour of a peak time congestion charge which would help to fund major transport improvements.

The Returning Officer for the Greater Manchester Transport Referendum has released figures showing the turnouts in each district.

Of the 159,328 Oldhamers eligible to vote, 44,422 have already done so — a turnout of 27.9 per cent. Only Tameside is higher turnout with 28.3 per cent.

Rochdale is lagging behind on 23.3 per cent while Manchester is bottom with 13.5 per cent.

Almost 2 million ballot packs have been issued to households across the region and voters have until 10pm on December 11 to return their papers.

The results will be announced the next day.