L to R Deborah Dunleavy, Theresa Villiers MP, Susan Williams

Earlier today, along with the Prospective MP for Bolton West, Susan Williams I met with Theresa Villiers MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport.   We had a long and indepth discussion about transport issues in Bolton and the Greater Manchester area, talking particularly about the implications of the NO vote to congestion charging.

Theresa said, ” After Labour’s congestion charge disaray, council tax payers in Bolton and the rest of Greater Manchester are left to pick up the bill.    This is clearly going to put even more pressure on local council budgets.   It’s time Geoff Hoon matched the Conservative committment to free up those Transport Initiative Funds (TIF) funds so that local authorities can bid for funding for transport improvements that are best for their communities.   He should scrap the rule that ring fenced those funds only for cities who are prepared to introduce congestion charging.”   I could not agree more