---

---

---

---

6:45 am, September 11, 2008
Pro-TIF campaign gets underway

By Crain's staff reporter

The opening salvo in the congestion charge referendum battle has been fired with the unveiling of its campaign with a pledge to destroy what it describes as “the myths surrounding the £3billion investment package, and peak time congestion charge”.

'The Yes Campaign, which is a coalition of pro-congestion charge business lobby United City, GMB union members and environmental pressure group, has been unveiled at the Rochdale Centre of Diversity this morning.

The group said it intends to campaign throughout the autumn, across all ten Districts of Greater Manchester, culminating in an all-postal ballot in early December.

"The strength of 'The Yes Campaign' is that we are a broad coalition genuinely reflecting the diversity of Greater Manchester,” said Chris Oglesby, spokesman for United City and chief executive of property development firm Bruntwood. “As we have talked to businesses over the summer about the benefits that TIF will bring, we are finding that the tide is turning in favour of the bid."

Speaking at the launch, Pat Connor, Chair of the GMB Union's taxi section in Greater Manchester said: "Cab drivers have seen traffic get worse and worse in Manchester over the last ten years. Obviously we want to see traffic moving if we are going to make the most of our working day. I have no doubt that this £3billion investment is our best chance to tackle Greater Manchester's transport problems."

Comments? manchesternews@crain.com

Post a Comment

Name (required)

Email (will not be published) (required)

Search for stories by Industry