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People power can get Metro back on track

Dave Appleton
26/ 8/2004

NOT since 1843, when John Bright campaigned for the repeal of the Corn Laws, have Rochdalians united so solidly behind one issue.

At stake is the future of Metrolink.

And in one of the biggest petitions ever to be presented by Rochdale people to the House of Commons, thousands will say if it does not go ahead it will compromise the regeneration of one of the most deprived areas of the country.

There are already more than 600 signatures on the Rochdale Observer's petition, as well as hundreds of individual comments and letters explaining the impact of transport secretary Alistair Darling's decision to stop the expansion of the light rail tram system to Oldham and Rochdale.

Council leader Councillor Paul Rowen said: "There has been a fantastic response from the people so far. People are writing in and rallying around the all-party campaign to get our Metrolink back on track. With the civil servants and government ministers returning to their desks in the next few weeks it's important that as many people sign the Metrolink petition as possible.

"People power holds the key, the more we can demonstrate that everyone is behind the 'Get Back On Track' campaign the better the chance we have of reversing this decision."

Hundreds more have signed a parliamentary petition drawn up by MP Lorna Fitzsimons which notes that ?200M has already been spent in preparation for Metrolink extension and says Mr Darling did not fully consider the investment that has already been made.

She also points out that large-scale government investment into housing through the Housing Market Renewal (HMR) scheme had been designed around the route of the Metrolink.

The parliamentary petition says: "The announcement will impact very negatively on the outcome of the HMR as it is trying to improve house prices to ensure the market doesn't collapse in large areas.

"The cancelling of the scheme will threaten inward investment and act as a negative on the housing market and thus lessen the impact of ?100M of government money.

"We do not consider this good value for money or good joined-up government."

Miss Fitzsimons also points out cancelling the Metrolink extension will have an impact on Kingsway Business Park, where 7,000 jobs are set to be created, and the regeneration of the town centre and Drake Street.