Birmingham Metro plan is still on the rails, say bosses
DESPITE ditching road charging, transport bosses insisted they were committed to the multi-million Midland Metro extension through Birmingham city centre.
It had been thought Government funding for a scheme to take the Metro from Snow Hill to Five Ways hinged upon some form of roads pricing agreement.
And last month, it was reported Centro had launched a review which could see trams travel only as far as New Street railway station.
But, speaking after the West Midlands Joint Committee meeting, Centro chairman Coun Gary Clarke said: "We are adamant we will carry on with the extension.
"As far as I concerned, our policy is it's still on the agenda. If we proceed, we are talking about carrying 20 million passengers."
Birmingham City Council leader Coun Mike Whitby also identified Birmingham International Airport's proposed runway extension as a key transport priority.
"From that airport you can only reach one of the six growth nodules in the world economy," he said.
