Ministers will not re-route trams

MINISTERS will not intervene to bring trams into the town centre and along Union Street after residents voted no to congestion charging, Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon has revealed.

But Metrolink is still coming to Oldham as the money had already been secured to transform the loopline from train tracks to tram lines.

Commuters to Manchester will eventually be able to catch a tram from Mumps into the city once the line is finally replaced. It is hoped work will begin later this year.

Speaking exclusively to the Chronicle, Mr Hoon said the people of Greater Manchester had spoken — and any further calls for the tram to be extended should be decided locally.

Mr Hoon added: “The verdict could not have been clearer — I am not going to argue with that.

“There are other funds available to regions for them to identify their priorities as far as their future transport requirements are concerned, but that will be a matter for local areas to decide.

“The scheme was voted down and it will not be coming back.”

The borough’s regeneration plans were centred on the Metrolink expansion which was hailed as heralding an economic boom.

Apart from the Metrolink loop along King Street and Union Street, Oldham was also due to get new park-and-ride sites at Shaw and Mills Hill, extra train carriages, 20 per cent public transport discount for the low paid, smartcard ticketing, and yellow school buses.

Back in December, 2008, Oldhamers voted by a huge 68,884 votes to 17,571 to reject plans — around four to one — which would have brought congestion charging in by 2013.