The in-depth investigations will also look at the impact on the economy of congestion charging, particularly if Greater Manchester decides not to go ahead. However, the Merseyside authorities insist that any road user charging could only be implemented if large-scale public transport schemes are funded first. Areas to be looked at include enhancement of city centre underground stations. They are also looking at possible funding of electrifying several railway lines in the region to extend the Merseyrail network. The bid has now been approved by the Merseyside Strategic Transport Planning Committee, who were told by Murray Grant, head of the Local Transport Plan Support department at Merseytravel, that: "This bid would not commit us to introducing road user charging measures. "It is not considered that congestion will be a major problem in the short term. However, trends elsewhere suggest rising prosperity and economic activity will lead to increasing demand for travel. This is behind the Government's commitment to a form of national road user charging as the best means of managing increasing demand." A spokesman for the Forum of Private Business said: "Congestion charging would be a mistake. It is just another tax and puts a heavy burden on businesses." Cllr Flo Clucas, executive member for economic development, insisted last night there were no plans to bring in congestion charges. She said: "In order to apply for funding we have to look at congestion charging but there is no intention to apply it. "This city was built for 800,000 people and there are only around half that so the 14% increase may not necessarily be the case. "We are doing with the Big Dig what other cities took years to do. There is bound to be an element of congestion but the pain will be more than worth it." A spokesman for Liverpool Council said: "Liverpool's Big Dig includes hundreds of projects and is not just about roadworks. However, many of the schemes being built inevitably have an impact on the city's roads and disruption is unavoidable. "The result of the Big Dig will be the creation of 14,000 new jobs and the injection of £3bbn. "We are heartened by the fact that a recent survey in the city centre found that two thirds of people questioned were supportive of the Big Dig because they recognised the long-term benefits to the city." davidhiggerson@dailypost.co.uk | 
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