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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| City tram scheme back on agenda | City tram scheme back on agenda |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Long-held plans for a multi-million pound tram system in and around Swansea are back on the agenda. | Long-held plans for a multi-million pound tram system in and around Swansea are back on the agenda. |
| City councillors will discuss the feasibility of a tram network in the south Wales city later. | City councillors will discuss the feasibility of a tram network in the south Wales city later. |
| Campaigner Rob Speht said there is growing public support for the scheme which could see Swansea linked to Llanelli and Port Talbot by tram. | Campaigner Rob Speht said there is growing public support for the scheme which could see Swansea linked to Llanelli and Port Talbot by tram. |
| Swansea was the home of the world's first passenger train, which opened more than 200 years ago. | |
| Mr Speht, a Liberal Democrat councillor for Landore, is chairman of the environment, regeneration and culture overview board which will discuss reintroducing trams to Swansea. | Mr Speht, a Liberal Democrat councillor for Landore, is chairman of the environment, regeneration and culture overview board which will discuss reintroducing trams to Swansea. |
| He has been campaigning on the issue for several years. | He has been campaigning on the issue for several years. |
| Well of support | Well of support |
| "Over the past year or so around 1,000 people have signed petitions to persuade Swansea council to look at bringing trains back. | "Over the past year or so around 1,000 people have signed petitions to persuade Swansea council to look at bringing trains back. |
| "This is growing at a rate of about 10 to 20 signatures per day at the moment through the online petition on the website. | "This is growing at a rate of about 10 to 20 signatures per day at the moment through the online petition on the website. |
| "In Swansea there is a deep well of sentiment for trams, as the very first tram in the world - Mumbles Railway - was built here more than 200 years ago," he said. | "In Swansea there is a deep well of sentiment for trams, as the very first tram in the world - Mumbles Railway - was built here more than 200 years ago," he said. |
| The Mumbles Railway opened in 1807 to connect the east and west of Swansea, but was dismantled in 1960. | The Mumbles Railway opened in 1807 to connect the east and west of Swansea, but was dismantled in 1960. |
| Mr Speht said Swansea could now be inspired by the experience of other cities, such as Nottingham and Manchester, and further afield in Germany. | Mr Speht said Swansea could now be inspired by the experience of other cities, such as Nottingham and Manchester, and further afield in Germany. |
| The Mumbles railway opened more than 200 years ago | The Mumbles railway opened more than 200 years ago |
| "Swansea's city centre economy is stifled by the fact that you can't get people in and out fast enough," argued the councillor. | "Swansea's city centre economy is stifled by the fact that you can't get people in and out fast enough," argued the councillor. |
| "If you look at the city, it was designed really before cars came into being. | "If you look at the city, it was designed really before cars came into being. |
| "If you think about growth and economic development, if you want a vibrant city centre, then it is naturally limited by cars." | "If you think about growth and economic development, if you want a vibrant city centre, then it is naturally limited by cars." |
| Mr Speht said Monday's discussion was the first step at re-examining the feasibility of a tram system for Swansea. | Mr Speht said Monday's discussion was the first step at re-examining the feasibility of a tram system for Swansea. |
| "This work will consume us for a year or two. It is only 12 or 24 months from now that we will know whether it is worth proceeding with or not." | "This work will consume us for a year or two. It is only 12 or 24 months from now that we will know whether it is worth proceeding with or not." |
| The councillor said he favoured private methods of funding much of the project, if it was to go ahead, at an estimated cost of £400m. | The councillor said he favoured private methods of funding much of the project, if it was to go ahead, at an estimated cost of £400m. |
| Mr Speht said he believed the city council would need to find around £50m of the cash, over several years. | Mr Speht said he believed the city council would need to find around £50m of the cash, over several years. |
| He also said the timescale for a tram project would out last the current economic crisis, allowing banks and private finance to invest in the scheme. | He also said the timescale for a tram project would out last the current economic crisis, allowing banks and private finance to invest in the scheme. |
| "The timescale of projects like these are five to eight years. But first there are a lot of boxes that need ticking - public consultation, financing, planning," he said. | "The timescale of projects like these are five to eight years. But first there are a lot of boxes that need ticking - public consultation, financing, planning," he said. |
| "It is not until around five years down the line that the banks need to come onboard. | "It is not until around five years down the line that the banks need to come onboard. |
| "There's certainly political support to examine this issue, and I think generally the public are behind it." | "There's certainly political support to examine this issue, and I think generally the public are behind it." |
| Swansea council's Environment, Regeneration and Culture and Overview Board will be holding a meeting at 1600 GMT on Monday where the tram proposals will be discussed. | Swansea council's Environment, Regeneration and Culture and Overview Board will be holding a meeting at 1600 GMT on Monday where the tram proposals will be discussed. |