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Hundreds rally their support

Adam Derbyshire
8/ 9/2004

TAMESIDE basked under blazing sunshine as hundreds of campaigners attended a rally in a bid to get Metrolink back on track.

Organisers were delighted by the turnout and are confident the rally will resound through the corridors of Westminster.

The fun began in Droylsden town centre with a rousing reception from the Tame Valley Ensemble Band. Civic leaders arrived aboard the special open-top bus, which pumped out music and loudspeaker pleas for people to back the Metrolink.

Ashton MP David Heyes, Councillor Kieran Quinn, and transport leader Councillor Alan Whitehead urged people to sign the petition and add their support.

It was then on to St Mary's Primary School, which was demolished and rebuilt to make way for the trams. Flag-waving youngsters spilled out into the playground chanting: "Metrolink Metrolink" and cheered as organisers thanked them for backing the campaign. Hugging the proposed route, the bus set off to Ashton where it reached its journey's end at Camp Street car park.

Waiting there were hundreds more people, who were determined to send a strong message and force the government into a U-turn. Mr Heyes and a host of civic leaders then took the mike and pledged to fight the decision.

Sylvia Makin, of North Road, Droylsden, who attended the rally, said: "It's disgusting the axe has fallen on Metrolink and I think today proves most people feel the same way. The trams are cleaner, greener and more reliable than buses."

Published 8 September 2004