By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
The new chief executive of Nottingham City Council has confirmed the authority will be working with the East Midlands Mayor on “opportunities” to extend the city’s tram network.
Studies of potential extensions have determined an extension to Gedling Village, via Nottingham Racecourse and the new Teal Close development, is one of the most likely options.
Other routes touted included one to the now-cancelled HS2 Hub at Toton and on to Long Eaton, and another from Clifton South to the new Fairham development.
However, Tramlink – the group of companies behind the NET network – says it could take up to 14 years before spades are in the ground.
The first phase of the network, which opened in 2004, took 14 years to plan and build, while phase two opened over a decade later in 2015.
Nottingham City Council’s new chief executive, Sajeeda Rose, said the authority will be working with the East Midlands Combined County Authority, and Mayor Claire Ward, on future expansions.
“We had the mayor of West Yorkshire come to visit what we have, with the view to be able to replicate that in other areas,” Ms Rose said. “I’m really proud of the infrastructure.
“The tram is part of a wider transport network including buses. It serves our city, it’s well-used, and we have more than 16 million people using it every year, a large majority of those are city residents.
“Trams, like rail and other light-railway networks, work when they go to places that people want to go to, where they live, where they want to commute to.
“We’re working with the wider combined authority, which includes our neighbouring county, to look at what options there are to think about further extensions.
“We will be working again with the combined authority in terms of potential investment into that. So, from my perspective, I’m really proud of the tram.”
The second phase of the tram network, which today goes to Chilwell, Beeston and Clifton, was funded by the Government which provided funding up to a maximum of £371m towards the total maximum scheme cost of £570m.
Nottingham City Council provided the remainder, with a significant portion coming from its Workplace Parking Levy.
The council has around £200m in external debt, which relates to the construction of the network.
Broxtowe Borough councillor, Will Mee (Lab), has been campaigning for further extensions to the north of the borough.
He says he’d like to see an extension from Phoenix Park, serving the areas of Nuthall, Watnall, Kimberley and Giltbrook retail park, to extend further to Eastwood and Amber Valley.
“It is great to hear that the new chief executive is looking at working with the combined authority and the county council to extend the tram,” he said.
Councillor Neil Clarke, Cabinet Member for Transport & Environment at Nottinghamshire County Council, said it any extensions will be a matter for the combined authority.
“Nottinghamshire County Council’s focus is on securing as much funding as possible to improve our road network, which we know is the number one priority for our residents, based on the public feedback we receive,” he said.
