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New tram hope as PM backs probe into costs

Dave Appleton
17/ 9/2004

THERE'S been a dramatic breakthrough in the fight to save the Rochdale Metrolink extension.

The Prime Minister has agreed to set up a special working party to look at the costs of the scheme.

Rochdale MP, Lorna Fitzsimons, one of 21 Greater Manchester MPs to see Tony Blair this week, said she was now optimistic a solution could be found to the funding crisis.

She said the Prime Minister had told them he endorsed the idea of light rail, he supported Metrolink and he would like to see it extended.

It all depended on 'affordability.'

Miss Fitzsimons said: "The working group will be set up as soon as possible, maybe even as early as Tuesday. Greater Manchester MPs will be represented by Keith Bradley (Withington) and the Department of Transport by the new minister, Tony McNulty.

"Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) will also be represented.

"They will try to come up with a solution to the funding problems, so the Metrolink is both affordable and gives value for money.

"The cost has soared to nearly a billion pounds, so obviously ways have to be found to reduce this. We all want it, but costs have to be driven down."

Miss Fitzsimons said the group's brief was to find a way to make Metrolink happen. The Prime MInister had been clear in saying that if there is a way, it will be found.

The Rochdale MP said despite the breakthrough it was very important to keep the Metrolink campaign on track.

She said about 2,000 people had signed her petition so far but she couldn't present it to Parliament until it contained at least 10,000 signatures.

She hopes to table the petition in the new session of Parliament, probably in late October or early November, but has appealed to all her constituents to sign it before then.

She also revealed she had received 'hundreds' of letters about Metrolink, but needed 'hundreds more.'

Her views were echoed by Roger Jones, chairman of the GMPTA, who said: "The Prime Minister has said something has to be done and that is just what I wanted to hear.

"This really does give us a glimmer of hope but the campaign has to go on now more than ever. We have to keep that pressure on and it will pay off in the end."

• JIM Dobbin, MP, whose Heywood and Middleton constituency includes Castleton and Norden, was at the TUC Congress with members of the GMPTA this week to host a fringe meeting about the Metrolink campaign and gain the support of unions.

An assault on all three party conferences will follow, with fringe meetings being planned for all of them.