I have the following letter published in this week’s Bury Times and Prestwich & Whitefield Guide.  

BURY’S decision to say no’ to the proposed congestion charge is a much needed ‘nail in the coffin’ for the proposal to make us pay to make local journeys, but it should not be the end to the discussion on public transport. To make local people pay a charge to drive between Whitefield and Prestwich is quite clearly wrong, and another example of this government trying to impose unpopular measures on the people of Greater Manchester.

But the need for improved public transport has not gone away. For the sake of our environment, and the sake of future jobs and wellbeing we need to tackle the polluting traffic problems of our major roads and motorways. advertisement Other cities are having major public transport schemes funding by other means . . . so why not Greater Manchester? Other solutions are available like using private investment.

Some much needed solutions, like safer Metrolink stations or school transport schemes shouldn’t cost the earth.

The debate on congestion charging was distracting us from the real issue of how we find the means to improve our public transport.

Coun Tim Pickstone Leader, Bury Liberal Democrats