CfFPT CAMPAIGNERS RALLY
for FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT

As stated on our home page, over 40 supporters of the Campaign for Free Public Transport braved the freezing cold weather to take part in the campaign's first public rally in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester on Tuesday 2nd December.

Most of those who got up to speak at the 'open event' opposed the TIF proposals and called for a 'No' vote in the subsequent week's Greater Manchester wide Referendum.

Following on from the contributions made by Roy Wilkes & Bill Harrop at the Rally, Steph Prior, a Gorton resident and CfFPT Treasurer said:

"The whole heavily-subsidised 'Yes' campaign (which Greater Manchester Council Tax payers have been forced to pay for without consultation or consent) is a cynical manouevre to blackmail and coerce the general public into thinking there can be no other discussion or debate about the future of public transport.

"Not only that, that there can be no other discussion about what improvements are needed to tackle the related problems of road congestion, traffic accidents and management, carbon emissions, the rising costs and diminishing supplies of fossil fuels, the degradation of the urban environment and the quality of life for Greater Manchester residents and workers (to name just a few of them) either.

"Also, for a strategy that, were it to be successful, will take five years to implement, it is extraordinarily short-sighted and totally inadequate!

"We don't have five years to begin tackling our energy and climate crises. We have to implement a radical strategy NOW.

Stephen Hall, a Respect Party member and Wigan Against Road Tolls campaigner from Atherton said:

  

"There is an alternative!

As many as 72% of people interviewed in a recent survey by market research company TNS UK said they would not give up their car until they could use public transport without charge.

These findings point the way to the real long term solution to road traffic congestion and all its related evils. It's not rocket science and it doesn't take a genius to work it out. The answer lies in FREE & BETTER PUBLIC TRANSPORT throughout Greater Manchester and throughout Britain. 

For more photos from our December Rally and of our campaign activities generally, please go to our Campaign Photos page.