Bring it on says Lib Dem Leader

Lib Dem Leader Carl Cashman says he’s ready to take on Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram for an hour-long debate over the current situation at Bramley Moore Dock. 

In a 30 minute segment on BBC Radio Merseyside on Friday (21st Feb), Carl Cashman and Steve Rotheram went head to head over the current public transport plans for the new Bramley Moore Stadium. 

Cllr Cashman described the new fanzone set up at Sandhills station as a ‘cattle pen’ after Everton fans at a trial event were shocked and how poorly planned it was. When pushed on lack of preparation for the trial event, the Metro Mayor shirked his responsibility, blaming the lack of planning on the ownership issues of Everton FC. 

Liverpool Lib Dems have claimed that the Labour Metro Mayor lacks ambition and is afraid of embracing new technology as a means to drive change forward in the city. They say he’s working on old figures when new ‘lighter light rail’ technology means that tram tracks can be installed for £10million per kilometre rather than the £80milion Steve has previously quoted.

Liverpool Lib Dem Leader, Cllr Carl Cashman said, 

“For Steve it’s a question of trams ‘or’ trains - that’s completely the wrong answer. We need a mix - a tram system would be a positive addition to the public transport network. Our initial phase for this tram would connect the Lime Street Station, the City Centre, Waterfront up to Bramley Moore Stadium. So travellers already in the City Centre or travelling into Lime Street by train can hop on to get to the stadium that way. This will avoid congestion at Moorfields and Central Stations with those trains bringing fans in on the Northern Line from both South and North Liverpool. 

“Whilst a tram won’t be ready to go from day one at Bramley Moore, it will be ready to serve the stadium for decades to come. This is a long term approach to get the shovels in the ground now building infrastructure for the stadium and the Northern Docks. Waiting for too long will make it even harder to build good public transport infrastructure in the long term. We need to show ambition - a sign that we believe in the redevelopment of this part of the city.’