WOKINGHAM borough has become the fifth authority to sign up to the Reading-led bid for millions of pounds of public transport cash.

Councillors voted unanimously on Thursday to sign at up level one to the Transport Innovation Fund (Tif) project, giving the borough equal sway at the top table as Reading. Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Bracknell Forest have all signed at levels two or three, keeping them in the process and giving them access to some funds, but making it easy to back out.

Phase one of the bid, which is already being considered by the Department for Transport, is for £52m in capital funding and £10m in revenue funding for the councils in exchange for a Low Emissions Zone in Reading town centre. The more speculative phases two and three could hike this payout to £380m, but be tied into congestion charging after 2016.

Transport chief Keith Baker reaffirmed his party's "complete opposition" to congestion charging but said: "The Tif bid is going to go forward with or without us. We would have zero influence on any proposals which would have a negative effect on our residents.

"This will provide funding for some of our major projects, such as the Wokingham Station improvements or the third Thames bridge."

His argument was the opposite of that used in Tory-controlled West Berkshire, which has stayed resolutely out of the Tif process, fearing that taking a 'seat at the table' is akin to backing congestion charging.

Reading's transport leader Cllr Tony Page welcomed the vote, adding: "I hope that this will ensure that the Government gives speedy approval to the phase one bid."