Councillor’s attempt to save Drake Street stop

Councillor Shah Wazir

A decision to remove a proposed Metrolink stop on Drake Street has been 'called in' by a concerned councillor after it emerged a report was given to transport bosses suggesting traders agreed that the stop should be removed.

At a cabinet meeting earlier this month, councillors concluded that they wouldn’t try to overturn a decision which they say was made by transport bosses to pull the plug on plans for a Metrolink stop on Drake Street.

However, Councillor Shah Wazir has called in that decision in the light of a report given to Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority in the first place which suggests traders and councillors had been consulted on the plans – and agreed that the stop should be deleted. 

The decision will now be reviewed by another council committee.

The report from the meeting dated 4 March when the initial decision was made reads:

“Assessment work has been undertaken and it is proposed to remove Drake Street stop and deliver the Metrolink stop at Kingsway Business Park instead. Local traders and Elected Members for the area have been consulted and are in support of this proposal.”

However, at the Cabinet meeting, in a bid to reinstate the stop, several traders spoke up about the impact removing the stop would have, as did some councillors. Traders have also submitted a petition calling for the stop to be reinstated.

At the cabinet meeting councillors were advised ‘not to proceed to seek to overturn the ITA decision to delete the Metrolink stop’ because ‘This option is not realistic given financial implications and other factors.’

Councillor Shah Wazir, said: “Two stories are being told, one to Transport for Greater Manchester that everyone is in agreement and one in the Cabinet that Transport for Greater Manchester decided to delete the stop.

“I feel that this is misleading. The whole process is misleading; the decision has been made against the wishes of local traders, residents and politicians.”

Councillor Wazir said he thinks there is another reason behind the deletion of the stop.
At the Cabinet, the rationale for the deletion of the stop was put down to operational difficulties, financial pressures and that the stop offers no additional catchment benefits to that provided by the stops at Maclure Road and Rochdale Town Centre.

Councillor Wazir said: “It could be because of the extra stop at Kingsway.

“In Oldham they have the same line and three stops close to the town centre making it viable for the local economy in Oldham.

“In Rochdale there will be no single stop from the Metrolink station to the train station.”

Councillor Wazir has the support of the Conservative Party leader, Councillor Ashley Dearnley, who said: “The transport authority has made the decision in light of information provided which states councillors and businesses were informed and agreed. That decision has been made from false information.”

Councillor Ian Duckworth who attended the first meeting where the decision was made, said: “Somebody is misleading somebody on this, that is the bottom line.”

Councillor Duckworth believes the Drake Street stop was removed to make way for a stop at the Kingsway Business Park.

Transport for Greater Manchester were not available for comment.