Bringing Metrolink to Middleton declared borough’s ‘number one’ transport priority

Bringing the Metrolink to Middleton has been declared the ‘number one’ transport priority for Rochdale.

Plans to link Middleton to Manchester city centre – as well as an extension to Oldham – are included in the region’s refreshed long-term transport strategy.

It is named one of the projects to be developed over the next five years – and council leader Allen Brett wants to make it a reality as soon as possible.

He says it is particularly urgent due to the ‘Northern Gateway’ plans included in the new Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.

These propose 1,500 homes around Simister and Bowlee – 200 of which would be built at Rhodes Green, in Middleton.
 

Read more: The latest version of the region’s development masterplan is due to be signed off – here’s what it means for RochdalePublished: 29 October 2020

Councillor Brett told a meeting of cabinet members he wants it to be front and centre of the authority’s public transport ambitions.

He said: “I would like us, as a council, to say that the Metrolink to Middleton is our number one priority on the Metrolink line and we need Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM)  to really up their game on that.

“And, can I say, that I think it is vital. We are getting, now, improvements to Junction 19 ([of the M62] to Heywood and I think we need the Metrolink to come to Middleton.”

He also stressed the importance of transport infrastructure in supporting future the thousands of new homes planned for Rochdale over the next two decades.

“I would like support for the Metrolink to come to Middleton and we ask our reps on TfGM to continue to push that at every opportunity,” added Councillor Brett.

The issue was also raised by South Middleton ward councillor Peter Williams at a scrutiny committee meeting.

Like Councillor Brett, he highlighted the importance of the link to Middleton as part of the infrastructure to support the wider plans for development.

“Especially if there’s a development of housing at Rhodes Green for example, we might want a stop located somewhere near the edge of the borough and Bury and Manchester,” he added.

Chief planning officer Mark Robinson said that this could not be a condition of the housing development, as developer financial contributions would not cover the cost.

But he added that the ‘significant housing growth’ planned for the area meant it was very likely that this would be the case.

“Whilst we are not committing to the actual route, I would fully expect it to run in that general vicinity and the future stop would very much serve that [housing] allocation,” he said.

Middleton councillor Phil Burke, who also represents Rochdale council on the TfGM committee, said he was delighted with the renewed focus on the scheme.

“It will be fantastic,” he said. “Being able to jump on a tram in Middleton and go to Manchester and other parts of the ten boroughs will open up a lot of opportunities for people.”

Councillor Burke also said it would be a ‘fantastic boost to the local economy’, describing the Metrolink extension as Middleton’s ‘missing link’.

“We are already fighting hard to improve bus services and now we’re fighting hard to get the Metrolink,” he said.

“The feedback we have had from people is fantastic. A lot of people want a Metrolink service, they want to sample what the south side (of Greater Manchester) has got, and what other areas have got.”

The Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2040 has been endorsed by Rochdale council cabinet members.

Nick Statham, Local Democracy Reporter