Public vote on traffic charges now ‘likely’

THE leader of Oldham Council will meet the heads of other Greater Manchester councils tomorrow to discuss a referendum on the controversial congestion charge.

Councillor Howard Sykes said this morning he had only just received papers for the meeting — which is a regular event — and had yet to learn the details of its agenda.

But he described it as a “significant movement” in the debate, and said he would welcome the principal of asking people before introducing something on the scale of a congestion charge.

The move follows a U-turn by Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester council, who has now said he would support a vote provided all 10 local authorities in the area accepted the overall result.

He has always been the most prominent supporter of a peak-hour-only charge in return for a £3 billion investment in public transport.

He had previously claimed the issue was too complicated for a simple yes or no referendum, but is now talking about the possibility of a holding a postal vote in October.

Seeking the views of Greater Manchester’s 2.55 million residents will cost more than £1 million, and Sir Richard is insisting that councils in the “no” camp — Bury, Stockport and Trafford — should agree to accept the overall results of a referendum.

Bolton Council is holding its own referendum before deciding how to vote.

Councillor Ken Hulme, chairman of Saddleworth SOS, is backing the call for a referendum, and launched a petition in support at Sunday’s Saddleworth Show.