Letter: Trams are not the solution

LETTER: I am writing in relation to a recent article in which Councillor Mansell Williams calls for trams to be used to solve traffic problems in Shrewsbury.

Every now and then, this ridiculous idea rears its head and I think it's time the idea was put away permanently.

It must be said that as a person who was born and raised in the city with the largest tram network in the world, I am far from being against them. I am extremely fond of trams, but they will never be a solution for Shrewsbury for a number of reasons.

Firstly, we need to keep in mind the massive cost to install tram lines. To put a decent tram network into Shrewsbury could easily set our council back £50 million.

Secondly, trams only work well when they are not stuck in traffic.

So to have them work efficiently, we'd have to close every major access road into the town centre, otherwise we'd be paying £50 million for a tram network less effective and efficient than our current bus network.

As the councillor for the town centre I am well aware of the need to act on the traffic problems in Shrewsbury. However, I'd love it if green-minded people would be more realistic in suggesting solutions publicly.

Dr Maxwell Winchester

Shrewsbury