Rochdale councillors thank retiring chairman of Transport for Greater Manchester

L-R: Phil Burke, Andrew Fender, Shakil Ahmed and Patricia Sullivan

Rochdale councillors have thanked the Transport for Greater Manchester chairman ahead of his retirement.

Rochdale council’s transport representatives, councillors Phil Burke, Patricia Sullivan and Shakil Ahmed, bid farewell to retiring chairman Andrew Fender at the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee on Friday (16 March).

Councillor Burke said: “We wish Andrew all the best for the future. As Rochdale’s transport spokesman, I have worked closely with him over the years. On behalf of Rochdale, we would like to show our appreciation and thank him for all the help and support over the years.”

After a 41-year political career, Manchester councillor Andrew Fender chaired his last meeting of the committee on Friday, after choosing not to stand for re-election next month.

He was first elected as a councillor to represent the Hulme and Moss Side wards on the former Greater Manchester County Council (GMC) in 1977.

During his career, Councillor Fender was perhaps best known for his role in laying the foundations for the development of Metrolink, which was first opened in 1992 by HM Queen Elizabeth II and is now the United Kingdom’s largest light rail network.

Elected Chairman of the GMC Transport Strategy Committee in 1981, he went on to be chairman of a Rail Study Group which developed the plans for the over ground tram system. Councillor Fender has also been a crucial figure in enabling the ongoing expansion of the network to serve other areas of the region, including Rochdale.

After a lengthy campaign to secure additional funding to treble the size of the network, a multi-million-pound design, build and maintenance contract was awarded in 2008. The funding delivered four new Metrolink lines including Rochdale railway station.

Serving as part of the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA), he also helped secure funding that enabled the Rochdale Metrolink to extend to the town centre.