'Stockport to East Didsbury on the tram is just the beginning'

Plans to bring the Metrolink to Stockport could see tram services going to other areas in the borough as part of a phased expansion. In an update to 'Next Stop Stockport' - the campaign to bring the tram to the town - bosses said a vision to link Stockport to East Didsbury is just 'phase one' of the masterplan.

The line could be extended in future to other areas, including Hazel Grove and Marple. Part of the work has seen Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) review potential routes between Stockport and East Didsbury which could be protected for future tram tracks.

TfGM has also identified a potential tram-train route to Marple from Manchester city centre. A Stockport council report said construction work to bring the tram to the town centre could cost up to £1bn.

Try MEN Premium now for FREE... just click here to give it a go

Mark Glynn, director of place management at the town hall, said: "While the ambition for the borough is for the Metrolink from East Didsbury to the town centre first, we also want to make sure that we're linked up to the airport, through Reddish into Ashton, as part of an integrated network.

"It's absolutely vital that Stockport's part of the integrated Metrolink network, and East Didsbury to Stockport is phase one."

Councillor Grace Baynham said: "You only have to look at somewhere like Trafford which started off with the tram line 30 years ago to Altrincham and now the tram goes all over Trafford, to the Trafford Centre and various other locations.

"It's happened in every borough, once they get the Metrolink it has the opportunity to move outwards in various directions."

Stockport has been trying to secure a tram extension to the town for years. In December, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy