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MP puts on the Metrolink pressure

Adam Derbyshire
27/10/2004

ASHTON MP David Heyes pledged to crank up the pressure yesterday after a government minister gave the clearest indication yet that plans for the expansion of the Metrolink could be back on track.

Transport minister Tony McNulty said plans to shave millions off the bill for the proposed extension were being taken seriously. Mr Heyes vowed to remind Mr McNulty once again how much advance work had already been undertaken in Tameside.

The minister's boss Alistair Darling sparked outrage in July when he announced the scrapping of plans for three new lines to Ashton, Oldham and Rochdale, and Manchester Airport.

Mr Darling said he would not release the £520m that had already been promised for the 'Big Bang' scheme because the costs - estimated to have risen to £900m - had spiralled out of control.

More than 1,000 people signed our Save the Metro petition and hundreds more spilled on to the streets to cheer on the campaign's battle-bus as it wound its way along the proposed route during the Tameside rally last month.

Mr McNulty said: "We are having very serious discussions with Manchester and I would say that they have been extremely fruitful and productive."

Welcoming the news, Mr Heyes said: "Meetings galore have been taking place behind closed doors in Westminster and Manchester. We are doing everything we can to secure the funding and it has been confirmed to me that much of it is beginning to yield results."

Published 27 October 2004