£2.60 a year to fund town centre trams?

Metrolink Tram

Homeowners could be asked to fund the scheme which will bring Metrolink into the heart of Rochdale.

Rochdale Online News broke the news yesterday that Rochdale town centre will still get trams into the town centre despite the collapse of its Transport Innovation Fund bid after the resounding “no” vote in the congestion charge referendum last December.

The extension of Metrolink into Rochdale Town Centre has been revealed as one of the 'top' transport priorities across Greater Manchester and work could start as early as September this year.

Whilst costs have yet to be worked out, Council Bosses and Transport Leaders are looking at a variety of options including a contribution of £2.60 a year on Council Tax Bills to pay for it and getting the rest from the Local Transport Plan and other sources.

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen, the Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Light Rail said: "I have always said that Rochdale needs an integrated transport system to move to the next level. Connecting our state of the art bus station to our new trams will certainly deliver this. With our new Sixth Form College and the imminent regeneration of Rochdale Town Centre, dramatically improving our transport links is vital."

The plan could create 21,000 extra jobs by 2021 and support and sustain many others across Greater Manchester. If agreed by all 10 Councils, work could start as early as September.