I have just received the voting paper for the transport referendum and am extremely concerned that they only detail the positive aspects of the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) proposals but omit the other implications.

I assume the hope is that those people paying the congestion charges will have reduced journey times, and that there will be efficiency savings for heavy good vehicles.

There appears to be no conclusive evidence to justify any benefits and, as the projections are based on 2007 data, they may not be appropriate in the current financial climate.

Any benefits are so uncertain that the charges for HGVs will initially be postponed. Should such savings not be realised, commuters could be faced with paying all the costs. The impression given is that the proposed improvements to public transport will only go a head if the congestion charge is put in place.

This is not true.

Most if not all these changes have been approved by the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities for many years and would have been built, although at a slower rate, but for the fact that funding was with-held by the Government.

The Government is insisting, for solely political reasons, that a congestion charge system is imposed on Greater Manchester.

The TIF capital grant is wholly conditional on the implementation of the planned congestion charging scheme within the proposed timeframe.

The loans to cover just under half the costs will have to be met from the income raised from congestion charges and other transport revenues. Council tax payers will have to pay if there is any overspending.

The information makes no reference to the considerable costs of running and maintaining buses, trams and trains besides the charging system.

Who would win under these plans?

The suppliers of the electronic tagging and costing equipment, the police and other government agencies.

Private firms — and their shareholders — who will have additional trains and buses, dedicated traffic lanes and financial incentives to run certain services.

Construction firms, possibly commuters in Manchester or HGVs, people in areas where public transport in an acceptable option, some cyclists and school children, and low paid workers who will receive a discount, but only for the first two years.

Those travelling within but not across the charging rings, as they will not be charged for their short trips, like school runs, even though these journeys significantly contribute to congestion Who would be the losers?

All council tax payers who ultimately will be responsible for any overspends in running costs or loan repayments — by increased charges or the reduction of services.

Anyone who has no option but to use their cars for work and has to cross charging rings.

Commuters on public transport will save on their fuel costs but be paying fares to the firms proving the transport.

A Yes vote will commit the community to a considerable financial burden for the foreseeable future for very little benefit; most of justifiable transport improvements would have been implemented within the next 10 to 15 years had the Government pulled the plug on funding.

J Raine, Bolton