Lib Dems call for tram to transform the north

A new tram line should be built from the City Centre to Everton’s new ground. That’s the plan from Liverpool’s Liberal Democrat Councillors.

When the Lib Dems previously ran the city, they ushered in an era of fantastic change in Liverpool, with the development of Liverpool ONE and the building of the arena and convention centre. 

Now, Liverpool Lib Dem leader Cllr Carl Cashman says that he wants to bring back that ‘vision and ambition’ that has been missing under Labour. He has been heavily critical of Labour and Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram over the lost Astrazeneca investment and now over the hated ‘fan zone’ at Sandhills Station. 

Cllr Cashman said:

“We really are getting the bog standard here from Labour. Putting up a fence at Sandhills does not count as doing anything that people want. Labour has also failed to come up with a proper plan for parking around the stadium. We really need a tram line.”

Rotheram’s announcement of the fan zone was met with ridicule from people on X with one user saying ‘they’ve had years to come up with this, this isn’t good enough.’ Another user said ‘genuinely pathetic, makes the city look a show.’

The City Council have also failed to create a thought out parking system around the new stadium, that will be ‘bad news for local residents and local businesses’ say the Lib Dems.

Cllr Cashman’s comments come after the owner of Hot Water Comedy club called the Council’s plans ‘disgraceful’. 

‘I have been contacted by many businesses who are affected by the Council’s plans, some of whom have been in that area of Liverpool for over 50 years. The plans need a thorough rethink’ said the Lib Dem leader.

‘It’s interesting that I am being contacted by so many business leaders who want to invest in and see our city prosper. They are bypassing Labour and coming straight to the Lib Dems.’ 

‘After an interesting conversation with an expert on trams, there’s clear evidence that a tram would work in Liverpool and would create low cost, low carbon travel alongside huge investment.’

The Lib Dems believe that a city centre tram is deliverable and will have it as a key pillar of their ‘plan for Liverpool.’