Withington MP presses the government over Metrolink funding

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 28th Jun 2006

John Leech, Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington, has asked questions of the Secretary of State for Transport during a debate on the Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) in Parliament.

It is hoped that this fund will be used to bankroll the "Big Bang" extension of Metrolink to South Manchester. However, there are fears that the government will link payments from the TIF to the introduction of congestion charging or road-user pricing, which are opposed by the Liberal Democrat MP. John Leech asked the Secretary of State to confirm whether bids would be successful if they do not include congestion charging or road pricing, but the answer was non-committal.

John Leech MP said:

"Transport Innovation Fund money should be made available to bring Metrolink to South Manchester with no strings attached. What is needed to reduce traffic congestion in South Manchester is the 'carrot' of decent public transport, including Metrolink, not the 'stick' of congestion charging. Only when we have a fully integrated public transport network in south Manchester will commuters and other travellers be tempted from their cars and onto the trams and buses. It is time that the Government made public their intentions on Metrolink in South Manchester."

ENDS