Council leader's column: Let’s keep the tram crackdown on track

Town Centre Metrolink stop

The arrival of Metrolink trams directly into Rochdale town centre has played a crucial part in our impressive regeneration. I am sure the connectivity between the tram and bus transport hub and the town centre played a major part in attracting developers and investment.

I know that some of our neighbouring authorities would love to have this level of infrastructure in their borough.

This will only improve further if we are successful in getting trams into Middleton. Again, I know the leader of one neighbouring authority would love something similarly exciting for their borough.

That is why I find it so disheartening to continually hear of the troubles we are having on our tram line from Manchester city centre. I read a report recently that highlighted the extent of the problems on this line, which travels from the city centre, through Oldham and on to Rochdale.

It may surprise some to learn that our line regularly features as the one with the most incidents of antisocial behaviour across the whole Metrolink network. It is not unusual for us to have twice as many incidents as the rest. I know that I am not the only one who is completely outraged by that fact.

It is not as if Metrolink and partners like the police are not doing anything about the issue, though, because they are. Many of you who travel up and down this line on a regular basis will have seen ticket inspectors and the Travelsafe team patrolling the carriages to put our minds at ease.

The level of resources that has recently been committed to tackling this problem is commendable.

Police reported recently saying 13 people had been arrested during a recent ‘clampdown’ on antisocial behaviour on the Rochdale line, and I understand that they can not be everywhere all of the time.

That said, I do hope that this is seen as just the beginning of operations. It is too serious a problem for this proactive start not to continue.

I am regularly told that some of the borough’s Metrolink users feel unsafe travelling on the tram. This is simply unacceptable and something we should not have to endure. Passengers feeling unsafe is something operators should continually be striving to stamp out.

After all I would imagine travelling on a safe and secure Metrolink line will attract even more people out of their cars and onto public transport. Who is going to disagree with that?

Councillor Allen Brett
Leader of Rochdale Borough Council