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Tram workers in line of fire
Reporter: Helen Korn
Date online: 02 February 2012
A scathing cross-party attack has been levelled at the “appalling” behaviour of Metrolink contractors.
Lib-Dem councillor Howard Sykes led the criticism at last night’s Oldham council meeting – and was fully supported by Labour cabinet member Dave Hibbert.
Councillor Sykes slammed contractors in his Shaw ward for having “little regard” for locals — including night-work without giving notice and threatening to work between Christmas and New Year. He added: “The way they speak to residents and to the council is appalling. This is a serious matter — we all know how long we have waited for Metrolink, but we want this done properly. Contractors talk about consultation but they do not consult.”
Councillor Sykes said he would back the Labour administration all the way in making sure Oldham was not fobbed off with the “lowest possible standard Metrolink”.
“We are going to have to fight tooth and nail to get what we want,” he said. “Council leader Jim McMahon has already said he does not want a bunch of bus shelters at Mumps and we agree with him.
“When the line comes through Oldham town centre, we want it to be the best it can possibly be for the town.”
The criticism suggests a major breakdown between council and contractors. The work is being carried out by the M-Pact Thales consortium, which includes Thales and partners Laing O’Rourke and VolkerRail. They were awarded the contract by the former Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE), now known as Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).
Councillor Hibbert, who expressed concerns over the cost of the project, said: “I’m in total agreement with the concerns Councillor Sykes has raised. We will be keeping a close eye on everything that happens,” he added.
Both parties have previously expressed their frustration over delays to the Mumps to Rochdale line.
TfGM have admitted they do not know when the opening of Oldham Mumps will be — but said it would be later than the planned date of March, 2012, and opened at the same time as Central Park in Newton Heath.
The new opening date was meant to be announced in January, but remains undisclosed.
Councillor Hibbert said he expected the opening date to be in June or July. The tracks are now being tested.
He added: “We are in agreement that we want to see the Metrolink coming through Oldham and on to further destinations — the sooner, and safer, the better.”
The contractors and Transport for Greater Manchester had not responded to the criticisms as we went to press this morning.
Comments
It was the Fib Dems who pushed this through and their transport 'expert' look at the mess they have caused, and there's still no guarantee it's even going to work!
Metrolink has wrecked Oldham town centre shops, and travel, taken away a perfectly good train service, and for what? So certain councillors didn't feel left out ot TfGM meetings, and the money the council thought they might make from fares, although maybe it was the expectation carriages would be used on the Geenfield Manchester line
I've heard from 'Friends' whom work around the council that the Oldham line will not be up and running for another 18 months at least, this would take it nearly 2 years overtime. Will the people of Oldham who have had to suffer through this whole mess be compensated in anyway by TfGM?
It's no good Cllr Hibbert moaning now - maybe the council should have been more pro-active in contract managing this scheme rather than saying how good it will be for Oldham folk who have to remain patient.
i cannot believe that the man who signed oldham up for the idiotic scheme now has the cheek to condem it.
why didnt he listen to experts like myself who have worked on previous sections of the metrolink. as well as others who told him and his cronies time and time again that the scheme was flawed.
note to howard. prove to us by now making sure we get a tunnel at manchester street roundabout to prevent even more disruption for oldhamers in the future.
Everything possible should now be done to turn this fiasco to the advantage of the borough. The appalling waste of money on the temporary line has to be taken on. The council should be insisting the temporary line stays as well as the permanent line, Mumps be made an enterprize zone with the temporary line an express to the airport via Manchester city centre. Lets make the most of a terrible situation
2 faced councillors again. Lack of regard? We don't want metrolink, We don't want it at the Manchester road roundabout. But do you lot care or regard our views? NO
Councillor Sykes complaining about a lack of consultation?
Isn’t there a saying that mentions pots & kettles that may be applicable?
Well Councillor Sykes, now you know how the rest of us feel with regard to Metrolink, & it’s Nonsultation
Opening date – Autumn 2011?
Opening Date – Spring 2012?
Opening Date – June/July 2012?
Opening Date – If we manage to get the signalling system to work?
After spending £££ more tax payers money.
So only now are people complaining? I live opposite Freehold Station and have had to put up with this for the last two years!
TfGM is now “consulting” us about Manchester Road roundabout, while they are already building the route.
There is now no alternative route, presumably no planning application / permission in place & little chance of any ones comments making any difference.
See tfgm.com for a map of Manchester Rd roundabout Metrolink crossing. Ask yourself, “Why did OMBC really buy the Pennine Way Hotel?”
Did OMBC buy the hotel to become accommodation for the Huddersfield Uni as they stated? Or has this always been the plan, but we were not going to be told about it until it was too late?
From the Chron. archives, “The Pennine Way Hotel, bought for more than £1million by Oldham Council, will be sold for a nominal amount to create a new science centre.”
Or maybe a Metrolink line?
That another million or two we’ve paid towards this farce. Is the money used to buy & then sell the hotel part of the overall costs, or has it been hidden away?
Just how long before the Oldham Loop closed, was the tunnel removed from the plan & replaced by this route?
If you want to see the plans for Manchester Road roundabout or be involved in the "consultaion" see Metrolinks web site
http://www.tfgm.com/manchesterstreet/metrolink-mcr-street.cfm
It would be interesting to learn exactly who signed on the dotted line on behalf of Oldham Council for this project They clearly have absolutely no business or project management acumen, so how were they qualified to give the go ahead. Whoever it is should be prosecuted for misconduct in public office. The tail is wagging the dog here, and those that are complaining should remember this next time they cast a vote. The people of Oldham get what they deserve.
The vast majority of the townsfolk don't want this metro but hey we know best you've got it and will be paying for it for the next 50
Yrs throught the poll tax starting this year It's a liability and a bad image for the city
Labour mp g.stringer last week about Manchester metro
We didn`t need the Metrolink anyway. We had a good Bus and Rail link to start with, all it needed was upgrading.
We don't want metrolink, We don't want it at the Manchester road roundabout. But do you lot care or regard our views? No
Spot on Max, change is fine if it beings benefits but this metro doesnt. We have already been told it will be slow and there will limited seating. Roads have been dug up and new traffic systems put in place which are awful. But none of the powers that be want to aknowledge this
best thing we can all do to help oldham is send emails of complaint and calling for the original tunnel to be built on the manchester street roundabout nonsultation.
then we can prove once and for all that those at the top ignore the public and their views.
This attitude of contractors to the public only reflects the attitude TfGM has shown all along. The line to Central Park was supposed to open in "Spring 2011". Nothing from TfGM or Metrolink until the end of June, when spring had already passed, when they announced it would be December. Then nothing until late December when they stated times for opening the Oldham line would be announced in January. Well they may not have noticed but it's now February!
Again we are being fobbed off by Tfgm ( a name changed cause London did) but I would be suprised if they didnt open it till the other lines open, namely 2014, and have a big bang at opening them all, that is if they get the signalling done in time.
I say again, trains was alot better than this over priced white elephant.
Have Your Say
Haven't locals been complaining about this farce for some time now, why make an issue now?
By jwithers @ 02/02/2012 15:41:25