People in Wigan are leading support over plans for congestion charging, it was revealed today.
A survey of more than 5,000 people across Greater Manchester shows 53% support plans to introduce a charge of up to £5 per day to enter the city centre to help fund investment in public transport.
And it revealed that backing for the deal is stronge
st in Wigan, with 58% in favour and 36% against.
Crucially, more people support the proposal than oppose it in each of Greater Manchester's 10 boroughs – the charge will only be brought if it wins support in at least seven in a December referendum.
In return for a 'yes' vote, the government will hand over £1.5bn to revolutionise trams, trains and buses – and allow the area to borrow £1.2bn more against three decades of profits from the charge.
The Mori poll is part of a £3m consultation exercise.
As well as a 'yes' vote in Wigan, there are also clear majorities in favour in Manchester (56-38), Rochdale (57-39), Trafford (55-38) and Stockport (52-41). Support is weakest in Tory-run Bury, where 49% supported the move compared to 46% who were against it.
The question was almost exactly the same as it is expected to appear in the referendum.
It says the charge would not be introduced before summer 2013, when "at least 80% of the proposed new public transport" is up and running.
The findings broadly reflect polls carried out this summer.
Both found majority support in favour, but experts thought opposition would grow once the 'no' campaign started.
They pointed out that in the last congestion charge referendum, in Edinburgh in 2005, 74% voted against.
Supporters of the Manchester deal say the difference is the massive amount of cash that would go into public transport.
The full article contains 309 words and appears in Wigan Evening Post newspaper.
