Letter: Another look at tram idea

LETTER: I am writing in response to Dr Maxwell Winchester's letter relating to Councillor Mansel Williams's call for trams to solve Shrewsbury's traffic problems as a ridiculous idea.

There is, being developed at present, an idea of promoting tram travel on current operational rail tracks, which are not utilised to their full capacity.

Why don't we have a tram terminus at Meole Brace retail park to serve the retail park, football stadium and park and ride car park.

We only need two platforms either side of the main line, then use the main line and perhaps have tram stops accessible to the public at Sutton Bridge/Coleham before going into shared platforms in the station.

Or we can go around the loop, have a tram stop by Monkmoor Road Bridge and perhaps at Belle Lane and go as far as a parkway station tramstop by the Emstrey Island. From the station a crossover would have to be installed to take trains and trams up to Harlescott.

There would be costs involved with signalling, track and infrastructure alterations, but I am sure the cost would not be as involved as flipping up our town streets to lay lines.

It just needs all parties getting together and looking at a feasibility study.

On another point, what has happened about the idea of trying to reopen the path from the south end of platform three down into the English Bridge and Abbey Foregate car park?

This would save a lot of cars driving into the station and Howard Street car park, it's worth discussing with all parties.

David Giddins

Shrewsbury