BURY Council will not oppose the congestion charge for Manchester - for the time being.

A rail link to Ramsbottom, to alleviate congestion in the north of the borough, may be the price for unconditional backing.

Leaders of the ten Greater Manchester councils meet on July 27 to decide whether to bid for a £3 billion package which combines major public transport investment with charging zones around the M60 and the city centre.

Members of Bury's ruling executive will give no commitment to the principle of congestion charging at this stage, but they are happy for the bid to be submitted. They want to look at the details as they emerge over the next six months, and will lobby for the rail link to be included in the final scheme, on which the Government will make a decision early next year.

A note of unease was expressed by Labour leader Wayne Campbell about the lack of consultation and other matters such as the cost to residents. At last week's meeting, he was worried that "we are just quietly going down the road of supporting this until we have lost any chance to have a say".