 TRANSPORT bosses today told council chiefs: "We can do the sums to save Merseytram." Liverpool and Knowsley politicians met Merseytravel officials and transport minister Derek Twigg in Brighton to discuss the rescue package. But the ECHO understands the two main ideas in the new deal have previously been rejected by the five Merseyside councils. To save the tram, Merseytravel needs to find about £60m, which would be added to £170m from the government. The ECHO under-stands the transport organisation has agreed to pay £40m of that, using surplus cash from Mersey tunnel tolls. Merseytravel is allowed to use left-over tunnel money for major transport projects. But it is thought there are no plans to increase tunnel charges to fund Line One. The ECHO also understands Liverpool and Knowsley councils have been asked to find the remaining £20m. It has been suggested the two councils use money due from the government for cheap public transport for over-60s. Concessionary fares for pensioners are already provided in Merseyside, so the money would be going spare. But the government will not announce how much cash, if any, Liverpool and Knowsley will get until December. Officials from both councils are considering the deal, which has to be agreed within a week. The five Merseyside councils have previously said they would not agree to a tram deal which did not have all their backing. A spokesman for Merseytravel said: "It was a positive meeting at which our partners demonstrated their support for the tram scheme." | 
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