‘It is time the West London Tram is scrapped once and for all’

8:33am Tuesday 31st October 2006

EALING Council leader Jason Stacey has called for the West London Tram scheme to be dropped immediately following the latest Transport for London opinion poll which revealed further opposition to the scheme.

The poll shows there has been a shift of opinion with 44 per cent of those interviewed now against the scheme compared to 40 per cent in favour.

In the previous poll, in 2005, 48 per cent favoured the scheme with 37 per cent against it.

Cllr Stacey has now called on London Mayor Ken Livingstone to stick by his public promise to let the results of the latest poll determine the future of the tram.

Cllr Stacey said: "It is time the West London Tram is scrapped once and for all.

"The Mayor promised us that this poll would decide the future of the tram and I'm calling on him to stand by his word.

"I, like many Londoners, will be astounded if the Mayor presses ahead with a billion pound scheme that people have clearly told him they don't want."

The new survey also reveals the number of people strongly opposed has jumped from 25 per cent in 2005 to 33 per cent in just one year.

The numbers of those strongly in favour has also faltered, dropping from 23 to 19 per cent.

Cllr Stacey said: "Ealing Council made a unanimous, all-party decision in May to withdraw support for the tram and this survey only confirms our resolve to oppose it.

"We will fight these proposals every step of the way and if the Mayor takes this muddle-headed scheme to public inquiry we will be ready to take him on."

The tram scheme will cost an estimated £650 million to build with £24.5 million already having been spent on the campaign.