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12:00 am, October 30, 2008
Stagecoach won’t carry Stockport MBC’s TIF adverts

By Simon Binns

Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council has accused bus operator Stagecoach of censorship.

The company has refused to carry advertising related to the £2.7bn Transport Innovation Fund package from Stockport MBC on their vehicles, ahead of December referendum.

The council has produced adverts with slogans including “C-charge. Want to Pay? Have your say.” Stagecoach is supportive of the TIF bid and has refused to carry the adverts.

Stockport MBC leader Dave Goddard said: “This is outrageous. Stagecoach should be ashamed of themselves. They are censoring an entirely legitimate and proper campaign to tell people in Stockport about the congestion charge, the impact of transport improvements on Stockport and to encourage people to vote in the approaching referendum.

“There has been a stream of inaccurate and confused information issued by the transport authorities about proposals for Stockport. Stockport people deserve accuracy and clarity, and Stagecoach should be willing to be part of that. Their behaviour is disgraceful and has no place in a modern democracy.”

Mark Threapleton, managing director at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “The TIF package has the potential to bring a host of improvements to public transport and the environment in Greater Manchester including more peak-time buses, more reliable bus services and cleaner air quality for everyone.

“We don’t always accept all adverts and have universal policies on certain types of advertising including those which are not consistent with our beliefs on public transport.

“We took the decision to carry our own adverts on our own vehicles and are therefore not accepting any other related adverts from third parties.”

Comments? sbinns@crain.com

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