BACIT oppose delays - unlike some
BACIT have always believed delays to the scheme to be the
worst possible outcome. People are left in limbo and those most affected have
their property blighted. In
However, BCT the anti-tram group based around Fletcher and Lower Roads seem to
disagree. They made a statement in the Nottingham
Evening Post on 3 August:
Lloyd Wildish of the Better Community Transport group, opposing Beeston's tram route, said his organisation did not mind
the decision delay. "We think the delay will get so long that funding
won't be available," added Mr Wildish.
We sincerely hope that will not happen. In
Refreshing Change
Following on from the successful use of a
steam tram, to help reduce overcrowding on Line One this time last year.
NET have today announced yet another innovation. From today they will be
introducing a buffet car service and refreshment trolley on some peak hours
trams running between Hucknall and the City.
A NET representative said This is all about improving the passenger
experience. The buffet will provide a service of hot and cold drinks,
sandwiches, snacks and other light refreshments.
Go to Work In a TRUSS
A new Tram Bus hybrid (a Truss??) has been launched in
To make the Truss work significant support (pun intended) is needed in the form
of dedicated lanes and routes (like a tram). Such systems for guided buses have
been shown to cost as much as trams and are seen to be less successful.
One Year On
Last week was the first birthday of NET,
8.4 million journeys have been made. Well over the target for the year and
showing a promising build up of passenger numbers.
Lots of investment is flooding into the tram corridor. Recent reports show that
trams considerably contribute to regeneration, investment and improved trade
for local businesses.
Surveys have shown that 18% of NET users are former car users this means the
tram has taken the best part of 1.5 million car journeys off the road.
2004 has been a year of both successes and frustrations for the
campaign in favour of the proposals for the tram extension to Beeston and Chilwell. However,
the year has finished on a bad note, due to yet more locally caused delays to
the scheme.
Looking back to January, NET Line One was running late in commissioning, and
the Anti-tram groups were revelling and confident in their hope that NET would
fail. Line One was finally opened by Alistair Darling
on 8th March, and public service started the following day. Line One has been a roaring success, with patronage figures well
above those expected. Its success has been a major hindrance to the anti-tram
groups, who have tried to adjust their position, such that they are now
claiming to be against the proposed route and not against the tram as they used
to state.
In early 2004 the consultations for the line to Beeston
and Chilwell continued. BACIT held members meetings
with NET to talk through the proposals, and through constructive negotiation
gained an extra stop at
The transport minister attended a big conversation event at
BCBRA advertised a public meeting in the Evening Post, and then evicted people
who did not share their opinion, claiming the meeting was in fact private. They
then had to apologise for misleading people. The BBC held a groundswell debate
on the tram, and the level of ignorance and disinformation still being spread
about the scheme became apparent.
In the summer, the City and County Councils confirmed their support for the
proposed routes by voting them into the local transport plan, and confirmed
that the routes would be taken forward to a Transport Works Act Order. Again,
huge majorities of both councils supported the scheme. At that time an
assistance package was approved for shop keepers who may be affected by the
construction. BCBRA (who claim to represent them) still refuse to negotiate
with NET or the Councils on this.
The National Audit Office report on Light Rail was published, which has held
Nottingham up as the gold standard for
In November, BACIT and the two anti-tram groups (BCT and BCBRA) met with transport
minister Charlotte Atkins, and an announcement on funding was finally expected
before Christmas. However, a week before the meeting the County Council caused
their second delay to the scheme, claiming not to be able to vote on submitting
a TWOA until after the elections in seven months time, regardless of when the
decision comes from London. The Council firmly blamed the Government for the
delay, a claim rejected by the minister who said it is the promoters
decision. BACIT subsequently discovered that there was no legal reason for the
delay at the time it was announced, and the reasoning is more than likely
political.
So the scheme has moved forward, and Line One is huge success. But an
apparently un-necessary decision taken by our County Council (described by City
Council sources as lacking political courage) is now holding up £1bn of inward
investment on the Phase Two corridor, and the blight and stagnation in Beeston and Chilwell goes on. Lets hope for more progress one way or the other after the
elections in 6 months and in 2005.