WHEN London introduced the congestion charge (tax) in February, 2003, the charge was £5. It is now £25.

Granted some cars are now exempt, but none the less, the cost to motorist has increased by 500 per cent in five years.

London transport had an excellent record in 2003 when the charge was introduced and indeed still has — and it is owned by Londoners, as is the Tube service.

So the extra revenue has gone into a public-owned transport system, not into privately run for profit public transport system.

The proposed charge for Greater Manchester will go to funding private companies who can choose where to provide a service and where not to provide one, hardly the same as London.

Just look at the proposed train fare increases. If anyone thinks the charge will remain at £5 per day for any length of time, they are living in a dream world — £25 x 48 weeks = £1,200.

I have allowed for four weeks holiday a year. Millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money has gone into this so called bid and the wording on the voting paper is, to say the least, biased in favour of the yes vote. The Government should give the £1.5 billion now and get work started, thereby saving and creating jobs, not blackmailing the people of Greater Manchester. Then, if people can see a difference let’s have a vote.

Vote no to this tax do not submit to blackmail.

Iain Camick, Leigh Common, Westhoughton