Transport and logistics recruiters have added their backing to the ‘no’ campaign to the introduction of the Manchester congestion charge.

Following Stephen Glaister’s [director of the RAC Foundation] comments that a road charging system in Manchester would happen “sooner or later”, John Major, general manager at driving recruiter activ8, told Recruiter that he did not think that the introduction of the scheme was inevitable. “They are cetainly going to have get public backing because these are the people that are going to have to pay these charges. It is more costs for haulage costs on top of more costs. The margins that these people make are small enough as it is. The only way is for them to pass on these charges to their clients.”

Neil Ewart, partner at logistics recruiter Dixon-Stewart Associates, adds: “Companies that might be based in central Manchester might have second thoughts over whether they want to continue to stay in the city. They might think they have to move out to the suburbs and not have the extra costs of being in the city. There is a likelihood that we could lose clients.”