Cereal giant involved in c-charge row

Kellogg's have become embroiled in the congestion charge debate after being accused of misleading staff into voting no in the Transport Innovation Fund referendum, which will bring trams into Rochdale town centre if successful.

The cereal giant's communications director Chris Wermann sent an email claiming that staff travelling to the company's offices in Trafford would have to pay the maximum charge.

He claimed that people travelling from the M60 to the offices would pay £1200 a year. The Talbot Road offices would in fact be outside the inner Manchester ring so the charge would not be more than £520 a year for entrance in and out of the M60 outer ring at peak times.

Lis Phelan, chairman of the Vote Yes campaign said: “This raises serious questions about the credibility of those opposing the transport investment and congestion charge proposals. Kellogg’s have continuously claimed their premises were inside the inner charging zone and would cost them and their employees thousands of pounds a year.”

Chris Wermann said: “I stand by the email I sent out. I made it quite clear that there is absolutely no pressure on staff to vote one way or the other.”