Leech welcomes Didsbury metrolink extension

10.10.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 13th May 2009

John has been campaigning to get Metrolink to Didsbury since his election in 2005

Withington MP, John Leech, has welcomed the news that Metrolink is to be extended to Didsbury.

Having constantly pressed the government in parliament to fund extensions to the Metrolink network since his election in 2005, last year Mr Leech tabled a parliamentary motion calling for ministers to free up the money for the project in the wake of the congestion charge 'no' vote.

John Leech said:

"This is great news for south Manchester. Before the last election I promised to fight tooth and nail to bring Metrolink to the area after the Labour government axed its funding. With my Liberal Democrat colleagues, I have been working hard for this ever since - just last month I was in parliament urging the government to free up money for public transport in Manchester - so I am delighted that they have finally, belatedly, listened."

Mr Leech, a Liberal Democrat transport spokesman and member of the Commons' transport select committee, added:

"Metrolink will help tackle congestion in south Manchester and will persuade many people to leave their cars at home and use the tram instead, which will be great for the area and for local people too."

<ENDS>

Notes to editors

1. On 17th December 2008, John Leech tabled the following Early Day Motion in the House of Commons:

EDM 345

TRANSPORT INNOVATION FUND FUNDING FOR GREATER MANCHESTER

17.12.2008

Leech, John

That this House recognises the resounding rejection of the proposed Manchester Congestion Charge scheme in the Greater Manchester referendum; recognises that Greater Manchester requires massive investment in public transport to promote growth in the local economy; notes that £1.5 billion was to be made available to Greater Manchester through the Transport Innovation Fund in the event of a yes vote; and therefore calls on the Government to ensure that Greater Manchester is not short-changed as a result of the no vote so that public transport improvements including across the whole of Greater Manchester, Metrolink extensions, can proceed.

2. John Leech has previously spoken at length in parliament on the need for transport improvements in Manchester, most recently during a debate on Transport in the North West on 21st April 2009: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090421/halltext/90421h0004.htm#090421100000002.

3. John Leech has tabled formal Written Questions to successive Secretaries of State for Transport on Metrolink: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo060426/text/60426w01.htm#60426w01.html_sbhd5

4. Since the 'no' vote in December's Congestion Charge vote John Leech and Liberal Democrat councillors in West Didsbury have been running an on-going 'It's time for Metrolink in Didsbury' petition