Sheffield councillor calls for new tram line to Meadowhall
The councillor believes the demand for a new direct link is there
A Sheffield councillor is calling for a new tram line to Meadowhall to improve public transport in the city.
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Councillor Matt Smith, who represents Park and Arbourthorne on Sheffield City Council, said he believes there is demand from passengers for direct tram services to Meadowhall and Attercliffe from Arbourthorne, Manor Top and Gleadless.
The Reform councillor said: “Every night, I see the last blue route tram from Manor Top goes to Cricket Inn Road rather than crossing the bridge into the city, so it raises the question…should we have a new tram line directly linking Manor Top with Meadowhall?
“I use the tram every morning on my commute into town, and it is clear that lots of people need to get to Attercliffe and Tinsley for work, who live in Arbourthorne and Gleadless. There currently isn’t a direct link, so they have to change at Fitzalan Square every time, but as the infrastructure is clearly there, should we look at introducing a new tram line from Halfway to Meadowhall?”
He is also pushing for repairs after a huge hole was discovered under the tram tracks at Birley earlier this year.
Services have been suspended ever since while investigation work was carried out.
South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard, recently revealed that the bill for investigation and repair work could be around £1.5m.
He also said the tracks will not reopen before Christmas.
Coun Smith said: “We are also pushing for the issue at Birley Lane to be fixed as soon as possible, to allow residents to be reconnected to the network. It has already taken too long, and I know how much this is effecting businesses at Crystal Peaks especially, but for when it reopens a new link may be worth it!
“This would also mean that anyone needing to get to Rotherham would only need to catch two trams, instead of three…an added bonus.”