THE time is upon us to vote in the transport referendum. I will vote Yes.

These proposals offer cheaper fares for our lowest paid workers, as well as capped fares for everyone.

Bolton will have a new transport interchange. Hall i'th’ Wood, Bromley Cross, Lostock, Blackrod, Westhoughton and Daisy Hill stations will be refurbished. There will be more seats on peak time trains.

Ninety per cent of residents in Bolton will be a five minute walk from a bus service that runs every 20 minutes during the day, and every 30 minutes at other times.

And most of the improvements will be in place before the charge comes in.

This is a major decision for the region, and I hope everyone has weighed up the pros and cons and given it the serious thought that it deserves, rather than just dismissing, in the hope that congestion charging will go away forever. It will not — because he world is turning towards congestion charging as a way to deal with the increasing amount of cars.

If we say No, congestion will increase and there will be no choice but to impose a charge in future years but without the investment in public transport. Our already stretched transport system simply won’t be able to cope.

People of Bolton, vote Yes.

Miss L Bradley, Park Road, Heaton