You are in > manchester.com  > News > Political parties to debate Manchester transport

General Manchester news

Political parties to debate Manchester transport

15/09/2008

The future of Manchester's transport network is to be debated by all three major political parties in the next few weeks.

A plan to introduce a congestion charge and invest up to £3 billion in upgrading public transport facilities has seen the issue feature prominently in the local media in recent months.

Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) has now ensured the debate will reach the national stage by arranging fringe meetings at each of the three major party conferences.

Transport secretary Ruth Kelly has agreed to attend the event at the Labour conference in Manchester next week, while her shadow Stephen Hammond and Liberal Democrat spokesman Norman Baker will also talk to GMPTA officials at their parties' annual get-togethers.

Welcoming the news, GMPTA chair Matt Colledge said: "Greater Manchester's economy has grown enormously over the past 20 years.

"We need significant investment in our public transport network if it is going to be able to support this continuing development."