End of the line for city's tram fight

Feb 21 2006

Liverpool Echo

TRANSPORT officials have given up on their final attempt to save Merseytram. They will not ask the court of appeal to overturn the government's refusal to hand over £170m to build Line One from the city centre to Kirkby. Merseytravel had considered the move after their first legal challenge was thrown out by a judge last month. But it has now run out of time to do so. Story continues ADVERTISEMENT However, Merseytram will remain in the region's plan to improve transport for 2006-11, meaning it could be resurrected at a later date. Cllr Mark Dowd, chairman of Merseytravel, said: "We have reluctantly decided not to pursue the appeal, although our lawyers tell us we have a properly arguable case. It is simply a question of timing. "We have been told that we could not get a hearing in the Court of Appeal before the end of February, which means it would be impossible to meet the timescales for Line One. "We still believe in Merseytram. It is a positive scheme which could bring huge benefits to Merseyside and that is why it remains in the local transport plan." Merseytravel has spent years planning the tram network, spending £55m of taxpayers' money.

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