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Trafford Park-based haulier AK Worthington is campaigning for a referendum on the proposed Manchester congestion charge, describing it as "yet another tax on trucks". On Monday, secretary of state for transport Ruth Kelly gave the green light for Greater Manchester's bid for back-ing from the government's Transport Innovation Fund.

If successful, Manchester will receive a £2.8bn package of funding to improve its bus, tram and rail networks, but must in turn commit to introducing a congestion  charge. Under the proposals, which are likely to come into play in 2013, drivers will be charged up to £5 to pass through two cordons into the city - an outer boundary at the M60, and an inner ring closer to the city centre.

People will be charged for driving into the busiest areas at peak times: between 7am and 9.30am, and 4pm and 6.30pm.  A three-month public consultation has now comm-enced. However, Mike Lyons, group finance director at AK Worthington, which is part of the Greater Manchester Momentum Group (GMMG), a consortium of businesses campaigning against the charge, feels there should be a referendum on the issue.

"The public and businesses need to have their say," he tells MT. "It is effectively a new tax, and once again it will be the customer who will bear the brunt of it. "We currently need to pass on fuel surcharges and we will have to pass on this charge as well if this unfair scheme is approved." Geoff Dunning, RHA northern regional director,  adds: "It is another tax on trucks, on top of the fuel duty.

"The scheme has not been thought through, it's not justified and that's why we will oppose it." The GMMG has set up a website where people can register their opposition.