Leader to back C-charge vote

OLDHAM Council leader Howard Sykes was due to speak in favour of a proposal for a referendum on congestion charging as part of the Transport Innovation Fund bid today.

He was to tell a meeting of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) that the plan was a “step in the right direction and has to be a welcome development”.

At the same time, Councillor Sykes was going to reassure Oldham residents that whether or not a county-wide referendum takes place, Oldham itself will keep the option open to carry out its own referendum to establish whether residents wish to see the introduction of a congestion charge.

Councillor Sykes, responding to Manchester City Council’s plan to hold a referendum, said it was only right and proper that the public should be asked for their views.

He said: “I shall be telling the AGMA leaders meeting that Oldham welcomes the idea of a referendum.

“But in doing so we will want to be quite clear about the detail of the referendum and what we are asking people to vote for.

“There are certain things on which Oldham feels strongly if a congestion charge is to be eventually accepted and agreed.

“For instance, in Oldham where we have such a high number of private hire taxis we would want them to be exempt from the charge like the exception planned for black cab hackney taxis.”

He added: “Oldham also wants to see more flexibility generally on exemptions both for types of motorists and the journeys made across the congestion charging lines.”