Leading members of Birmingham’s business community have welcomed the prospect of a modern tram network to serve the city centre – and called for a speedy decision on delivery of the Midland Metro extension.
“The provision of a modern and efficient mode of public transport is long overdue,” says Ian Clark, asset manager for the prestigious Brindleyplace development.
“More than 8,500 people work at Brindleyplace and the development of the Metro extension will enable many of these people to more easily access their place of work, not to mention making it even easier to access and enjoy Brindleyplace’s many bars, restaurants and leisure facilities. We are hopeful that today’s announcement will signal the start of the development process which will see the much anticipated delivery of the extension,” he says.
His comments follow the Government green light given earlier today for a plan by the West Midlands public transport body Centro to extend the Midland Metro from Snow Hill, via New Street Station and Victoria Square to Five Ways.
“We now hope the city council will reaffirm its support for this Metro extension, enabling us to introduce it along with the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill line approved last year,” declared Centro director general Rob Donald.
The new 3.2km tramway through the centre of Birmingham would enable people to journey from Snow Hill to Hagley Road in just 13 minutes. There would be ten, easy-access stops at street level and the route would serve the main shopping and business areas, as well as provide easy interchange with other forms of public transport.
“We are delighted that the government’s go-ahead means that Birmingham has made a sound business case for the extension of the city’s Metro system,” says Jerry Blackett, policy director of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry and chairman of the West Midlands Business Transport Group.
He said the issue of underground running for all or some of the Birmingham Metro needed to be resolved quickly – with the results of a feasibility study due to be published next month.
“It is now very clear that we need to decide quickly whether parts of this new Metro line will be affected by the findings… so that there are no further long delays to easing congestion in the city centre,” he said.
