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Tram rally needs everyone’s backing

Dave Appleton
17/ 8/2004

A PUBLIC rally is planned for Rochdale as part of the campaign to save Metrolink.

It will be held on Friday 10 September before a parliamentary petition is presented in the House of Commons.

The time and place of the rally has not yet been decided.

Rochdale's MP, Lorna Fitzsimons, who sought and got agreement from council chief executive Roger Ellis to hold the meeting, said: "I urge everyone to sign our parliamentary petition and attend this rally so that local MPs can demonstrate the strength of feeling in support of the Metrolink extension."

Miss Fitzsimons and Councillor Allen Brett, who represent Rochdale on the Metrolink Campaign steering group, have got agreement for copies of the parliamentary petition to be put in council offices around the borough so people can sign them.

The closing date for the forms is Monday 13 September, although the Observer and our sister papers around Greater Manchester will continue to collect signatures on our petitions after that.

All council workers will also be written to, asking them to write individual letters to their MPs in support of Metrolink.

Meanwhile, Britain's biggest public transport union is supporting the campaign to get the Metrolink extension back on track.

The Transport and General Workers' Union, the only recognised union at tram operators Serco Metrolink, has put its weight behind the campaign because of the boost Metrolink will give to construction and transport in the area, as well as the 'obvious beneficial impact on the North West economy.'

The union's regional industrial organiser responsible for Metrolink workers, Bobby Morton, said it was essential for everyone to work together to get the tram system extended.

"Many people look to Manchester's tram system as a model for how to run systems.

"The T and G is strongly committed to Metrolink as a key part of an integrated system which we believe the government should be backing with enthusiasm."