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END OF THE LINE: No funding for Metrolink extension
END OF THE LINE: No funding for Metrolink extension

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Manchester betrayed over tram plans


21/ 7/2004

WHEN the government threw out plans for a massive expansion of the Metrolink tram system yesterday it threw away the trust of the people of Greater Manchester.

Weasel words and false promises have betrayed us.

BETRAYED when John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, came to Manchester in 2000 and pledged the scheme would be built, saying the city had "led the way" in providing integrated transport.

BETRAYED when Prime Minister Tony Blair described the expansion in 1999 as "exactly the kind of infrastructure project we need".

BETRAYED when Transport Secretary Alistair Darling stood up in the House of Commons and announced a contract deal worth '520m in 2002.

For the last four years we have taken the government at its word that it would help create a transport system fit for the 21st century. This newspaper campaigned hard for the Big Bang expansion and we celebrated, along with our readers, when it was approved. Every financial evaluation of the scheme has been positive.

As we crawled along jammed streets and put up with gridlocked town centres, we believed the government when it said things would get better. We had a vision of a transport network worthy of this great conurbation, a network which would allow people to move freely and quickly, a network we know they want to use and which would be the foundation for a '1m-a-day boom.

Mr Darling said in 2002 that Metrolink had proved safe and reliable, he was approving cash for three new lines and building was planned to start the following year. Yesterday Mr Darling changed his mind, blaming escalating costs - but in the next breath announced billions of pounds for the south east transport infastructure. Many said it was a stab in the back for our region.

Face to face

Mr Darling says "no government could accept these schemes as they are on the basis of these cost escalations" - not even a government which watched the amount of grant funding for London's Millennium Dome increase from '399m to '628m?

Not a secretary of state who yesterday found '340m for transport projects to support London's bid for the 2012 Olympics?

Not even a secretary of state who is backing London`s '10bn Crossrail scheme which, in his words, presents "funding challenges"?

The Department of Transport has already spent '200m on advance planning work for the Metrolink expansion. Is that now to be wasted? Tell that to the people of Rochdale, Oldham, Ashton under Lyne and Wythenshawe. Mr Darling should visit those towns and tell people face to face why they cannot have their Metrolink.

The people of Greater Manchester have had enough of ministers praising the area as an example of regeneration and then ploughing taxpayers' money into London. The very least we expect is that the '520m which was pledged should be honoured.

That way, at least a start can be made to expand the network. And for an extra '7.5m each year for the next seven, the two east Manchester lines could be built by attracting private funding.

Every MP in this region has a duty to protest at the highest level - and we appeal to our readers to send us their views for a petition to Parliament.

Mr Darling says he cannot, or will not, foot the bill. We say the cost to Greater Manchester, and to the New Labour government, will be incalculable if he does not get this scheme back on track.

Shame on you.

Has Manchester been betrayed by the government? Have your say.


| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(103)


Most recent 2 of 103 user comments

   I'm convinced that if we had not followed USA in with the war, we would not have wasted millions of pounds. The cost is still enormous. Only politicions of the two main parties wanted to go to war. The average person in the street did not want it. Now we are being denied our much needed tramway system along with many other benefits we should be having. It is incredible to think of the money already spent so far on the tramway system and then to stop it just like that. After promising the money, I cannot think of any other reason why the government have done such a stupid "U" turn. The Americans knocked the French for not following them into war but well done the French - they are now developing a magnificent tramway all round Paris and further tramways are being considered all over the country. They have got their priorites right !
S Renshaw, Stockport
11/04/2005 at 00:54

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   Once again Manchester loses out because of a decision made by central government, doesn't that sound familiar? Manchester was once one of the top 20 cities of the world, nowadays it pales in comparison to its European counterparts and why? One major reason is that investment has not been made in its transport system. People are the lifeblood of a city, if they can't move about easily and freely then the city stagnates and doesn't grow. If Manchester is ever going to be the great city it once was then it needs continued investment in its transport system, and the Metrolink is just the first step in the right direction.
Dominic Barber, Salford
30/10/2004 at 15:04

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