Congestion charge survey shows significant opposition

Congestion charge road marking

A team of protestors fighting road charging across Greater Manchester have taken to the streets of Heywood and discovered 69 per cent of the people they spoke to are opposed to the plans. 

The group of 12 volunteers - working with Manchester Against Road Tolls (MART) - have spent the past three weeks in the pouring rain to knock on doors.

The doorstep survey saw the group targeting Heywood as well as Bury, Oldham, Stockport and Trafford and talking with more than 1,600 people.

Sean Corker, spokesman for MART, said: “This survey clearly shows that despite a £400,000 leaflet campaign, the overwhelming majority of residents in Heywood object to the imposition of a congestion charge. 

“What our survey proves is that the council has failed its own key test of 'public acceptability' and therefore has no mandate to proceed with the Congestion charge bid. 

“Councillors should be mindful that their first responsibility is to the people who elected them.”