I completely agree with both Ruth Kelly and Brian Iddon — the Transport Innovation Fund proposals offer a great opportunity for Bolton. It is a real pity that David Crausby MP and others like him can only think of the charge (which only one in 10 residents will pay incidentally), instead of looking at how the scheme will benefit the people they represent.

I live in Lostock and I will be able to get a train to Manchester instead of using my car and, as I will gain from 20 per cent discounted fares, it will make public transport cheaper for me for the first time. I think if more people look at public transport as an alternative, they will realise the real choice on offer from this intiative.

I think that the new smartcards which would be introduced will mean lower fares as the Oyster card scheme in London has led to, as well as a more joined-up thinking for public transport across Greater Manchester as a whole. My kids will benefit from the new yellow school buses in Bolton, meaning that school journeys will be safer for them.

I think it would be a tragedy if we let this chance to greatly improve public transport pass through our finger tips simply because of misplaced greed. Motorists pay road tax to maintain the roads so I think its a cheek to use that as an argument.

We all pay taxes that we don’t feel are relevant to our every day life but a congestion charge is optional and if you don’t want to pay it, leave your car at home as I am going to and use public transport.

Miss L Casey

Lostock