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Rallies to show strength of opinion on Metrolink

10/ 8/2004

THE campaign group aiming to get Metrolink Back on Track is up and running - and determined to get the three new tram line extensions built.

Business leaders and politicians from all over Greater Manchester have already met and put together a plan of action.

Public rallies in the three areas affected by the decision - Rochdale and Oldham, Ashton and South Manchester - are top of the agenda, culminating in a huge rally in the city centre on September 17.

The group is also planning a letter-writing campaign encouraging everyone who opposes the decision to scrap the 'big bang' to write to their local MPs and to ministers so they will have an avalanche of mail when they return from the summer break.

The Chamber of Commerce has sent out letters to every one of its 4,500 members urging them to write letters explaining the impact on businesses and the North Manchester Chamber is doing the same.

All the activity over the next month will culminate in a three-pronged attack on the political party conferences in September, when members of the group will give talks on the campaign.

Members of the new campaign group include representatives from the GMPTE and Chamber as well as councillors, MPs and business people.

Rochdale MP Lorna Fitzsimons said: "I think what we need is a very sophisticated and well-organised letter-writing campaign. When MPs or ministers suddenly get a large volume of letters on a subject they start to take notice."

"We need to encourage businesses to write letters but most of all we need to get the public writing letters in their own words, explaining why this is such a loss, that is going to be very powerful."

Other suggestions included getting children involved in the campaign by distributing activity packs to schools connected with the campaign and a meeting with large property developers affected by the decision.

• HELP get the Metrolink back on track by joining the Observer's campaign. A form can be found on page 10 of Wednesday's Rochdale Observer.