Mixed reaction to emphatic poll verdict

GREATER Manchester’s inward investment and tourism bosses were left ruing a “missed opportunity” to improve the region’s public transport system after the referendum decision.

Colin Sinclair, chief executive of MIDAS, Manchester’s inward investment agency, said: “We started the day in seventh position in the European City Monitor for public transport and that’s where we are going to stay.

“The proposals would have seen massive investment and really put us in the top group of elite European cities, and that’s the disappointing thing for us.”

Andrew Stokes, chief executive of Marketing Manchester said the investment would have rapidly enhanced the city’s standing as a leading tourist destination.

“Without doubt the issue was a difficult and complicated ask in an economic downturn where people are really being hit.

“We are competing with major European destinations for visitors and the public transport improvements would have brought about a major change in Manchester’s position.”

The Federation of Small Businesses, which was a leading campaigner against the TIF proposals said the No vote “reflects both the publics’ and the business community’s refusal to be held to ransom over public transport improvements.”

North West policy manager Paul Henly said: “AGMA should now respect the wishes of the people of Greater Manchester and we urge them to withdraw the current transport proposals at their meeting in a week’s time.

“The FSB has always supported transport improvements and will continue to do so. However, raising the money for these changes through a punitive charge would have defeated the object.

“It is now up to AGMA to find another way to deliver a transport network that will benefit everyone. The FSB look forward to working with them and the wider business sector to achieve this.”

Graham Stringer, MP for Manchester Blackley, said: “It’s much better than we expected, but I’m not delighted. It means we’ve got to go and knock on the government’s door and say, ‘we need investment’.

“It’s been a divisive diversion, a lot of time and money has gone in to showing what a lot of us felt was self-evident – it was a bad scheme. People saw the tax as grossly unfair and nothing was really being offered on public transport.”

Lis Phelan, chair of the Yes Campaign, said: “It’s an overwhelming result. I can’t call it a victory because the people of Greater Manchester have lost out. We ended up having a referendum on the congestion charge, it should’ve been a referendum about transport.”

Ms Phelan said Greater Manchester has turned down “some real protection from the recession” and added: “Over the past four months The Yes Campaign has put together a wide-ranging coalition from pensioners to students, from road-reliant businesses to environmentalists, campaigning together for improved transport across Greater Manchester.

“The challenge now will be to keep that campaigning strength together to fight for the public transport investment that the region so obviously needs.”

Graham Brady, MP for Altrincham and Sale West, said: “It’s very encouraging and gives us the reassurance that Manchester is not going to be burdened with the extra tax this scheme included and leaves us free to compete in difficult economic times.”