Council taxpayers in the West Midlands are likely to fund a review into the proposed extensions of Midland Metro, after congestion charging was turned down by the local councils. It has been decided that with the withdrawal of the expected funding from government the local Councils will go it alone – and a £2 million study will be needed for this.
Councillors on Centro are due to be asked on Monday 31st March to set the money aside from the budget when the financial year commences in April. The £2 million will come from money collected through Council tax payments across the West Midlands.
A report to the transport strategy committee of Centro says: “The work will focus on developing funding proposals and will include a fundamental review of the options for extension and development of a business case which reflects new funding rules and revised legislation.”
The review would look into using disused freight railway lines for sections of the Brierley Hill line and also at curtailing the city centre line at Birmingham New Street rather than going any further.
Cllr Christine Mills, Conservative councillor for Wolverhampton, said: “Even if the Government had given us the money for the extension, it would still have been tax payers’ money being used. We now have to find other ways of extending the Metro and improving it.”
Source: Wolverhampton Express and Star