From C.C. Thornburn, Aston University, Birmingham
You rightly draw attention to the benefits of trams and light-rail (LR) in helping solve urban transport problems (Focus, 28 January). What you do not say is that the Government’s actions in this direction are still not matching up to its fine words.
Every conceivable obstacle has been put in the way of the West Midlands LR scheme – the latest is Dr Mawhinney changing the rules (unilaterally) yet again, saying that since LR schemes are of local value, local councils must now find a significant fraction of their cost, a criterion not applied to Manchester and Sheffield.
The result is that, at the drop of a hat, the West Midlands councils are now faced with finding an extra £25 million, and this at a time when local authority grants have been savagely slashed. Unless this money is found within a month or so, it is probable that the West Midlands LR scheme will collapse.
It appears that either the Government is still prepared to fund only one LR line at a time, and prefers Croydon (submitted long after the West Midlands scheme, be it noted) because it is in London. Or (more likely) it is not interested in public transport and does not want LR at all, its real preference being for road vehicles and motorways because this is what the roads lobby wants.
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