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SNOW HILL TO NEW STREET METRO “FACES AXE”

28-02-2008

The brains behind Birmingham’s new 20-year masterplan has said that long-awaited plans to take the Metro into New Street station may be scrapped. But he revealed that an alternative route to the Bullring is being eyed by the planners.

Kelvin Campbell, director of Urban Initiatives, has been rubbing shoulders with Council leaders, chief officers and developers to draw up a visionary map of the city’s future.

His “hunch” is that the idea of bringing trams down Corporation Street from Snow Hill station will be rejected because of its impact on other traffic.

“I don’t think the Metro is going to happen” he said.

“It would require enormous amounts of investment. I think it’s more likely that there’ll be investment in something more bus-based.

“The real problem with trams is the interruptions they cause to running other services in the city.”

Campbell suggested that if a new city centre tram route does go ahead, it might follow an alternative route: “It might go from Snow Hill down Old Street and link up with the wholesale markets area before coming up to the back of the Bull Ring.

“There will be a lot of development in that area and scope for regeneration. We should be exploring the different options.”

The Stirrer revealed last week that plans to extend the Metro to Five Ways are also in jeopardy.