Time running out for TIF comments

The public has just 18 days left to have their say on the Transport Innovation Fund and the controversial congestion charge that would come with it.

People have until Friday 10 October to leave their comments about the bid at www.gmfuturetransport.com, ahead of a Greater Manchester-wide referendum on the scheme, to be held in December.

The congestion charge will part-fund a £3billion investment in public transport, including bringing Metrolink into Rochdale, refurbishing trains and train stations, increasing the numbers of bus and train services in the town.

Seperate Government funding is in place to bring the Metrolink to Rochdale along the train line, but the TIF scheme proposes to bring the trams into the centre of Rochdale.

Opponents to the scheme have argued that drivers have already been hit in the pocket by rising fuel costs and believe that public transport would not be improved to any great extent outside of the Manchester city centre region.