CONTROVERSY has been raging over publicity material in the run-up to the big vote.

The Yes Campaign condemned an advert produced by supporters of the Greater Manchester Momentum Group, which portrays a young woman being assaulted because her father was unwilling to pick her up and pay the congestion charge. It was filmed at the Trafford Centre and posted on YouTube, but has now been withdrawn.

Yes Campaign chairman Lis Phelan said: “For members of the No Campaign to use images of violence against women to promote their campaign is beyond belief.”

But others point to a £230,000 TV advert about the scheme, which was pulled by Granada after complaints to Ofcom about alleged bias.

A Yes vote means Manchester could become a national leader in creating a modern transport system, says the Clean Air Now coalition. It has been joined by four leading environment charities: Friends of the Earth, the Campaign for Better Transport, Greenpeace, and Asthma UK.

Tony Bosworth of Friends of the Earth said: “A fast, clean and efficient transport system would make Greater Manchester a world leader.”

Residents of Simister will still vote No to the C-charge despite being given concessions. That’s the view of resident Pete Huxley and his son John, who spent time leafleting and postering the village.

Simister has been placed inside the outer charging zone so that locals will not have to incur a charge simply for leaving the village.

Pete said: “The congestion charge is just another tax to take money off hard-working people. It beggars belief that people will be charged to drive to work when there are no guarantees of any comparable public transport in Simister.

“The antipathy felt by voters of Simister mirrors that of other areas of Greater Manchester. People simply don’t trust the authorities and see the latest concessions as a temporary stay of execution.”

Trade union members have been urged to vote Yes by the North West TUC. Isobel McVicar of Greater Manchester Unison said: “A Yes vote will lead to cheaper peak-time weekday bus fares for workers on the minimum wage. This is too great an opportunity to be missed.”