66.5% of Rochdale Borough has access to a car

A Mini Cooper

Figures taken from the Census show that more than two thirds of people have access to a car. Across Greater Manchester, 67.2% of people have access to a car and the figure could be higher when you take into account that families car share. The figures come just days after Greater Manchester agreed to a borough-by-borough referendum on the proposed Congestion Charge.

In the Rochdale Borough, Pennines has the highest number of people with access to a car at 72.7%, followed by Rochdale Township at 66.8%, Heywood at 63.6% and Middleton at 61.9%.

Pro congestion charging Rochdale Lib Dems, in a release to the media, have predictably attempted to spin these figures to support their stance in favour of congestion charging, Rochdale MP Paul Rowen said: “The record breaking investment in public transport will make a real difference. Residents will leave their cars at home in the wake of huge public transport improvements. It’s clear that this huge cash injection will really benefit Greater Manchester.”

Commenting on the referendum, Rochdale Borough Council Leader Alan Taylor said: “We welcome the opportunity for people to have their say on this crucial issue. We always said that we would support a referendum once the details were known of the outcome of the bid and the benefits to the Borough."

This however flies in the face of what Councillor Taylor told Rochdale Online prior to the abrupt u-turn by AGMA who, having previously opposed a referendum, a stance Councillor Taylor told Rochdale Online he agreed with, suddenly announced there would after all be a referendum!