Plans to introduce congestion charging in Greater Manchester have been hit by the defeat of Irlam councillor Roger Jones in last week's the local elections.

Jones, who was chairman of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority, has been the figurehead of the road pricing scheme, which would provide £3bn of investment for public transport from the government's Transport Innovation Fund if it gets the green light.

His high profile support for the plan is thought to have contributed to his election defeat, with rival parties making it the key issue.

Jones is now no longer eligible to be a member of GMPTA. That means the authority will be looking for a new chairman at a time when Labour losses across Greater Manchester could see big changes in the composition of the PTA.

Jones' loss will not in itself affect the £3bn TIF bid. However, Jones was a champion of road pricing, and his defeat will be seen as a warning to his colleagues and potential successors.

Jones believes that his election defeat relates directly to the issue of congestion charging. However, he said that he would continue to support the road pricing plans unless an alternative scheme to improve public transport is found. "I am not ashamed of anything I have done and I don't have any regrets," he said.