The frustration of businesses in and around Birmingham’s ‘golden mile’ over the city’s failing trams was today reported in detail by the local press.
BirminghamLive, the online sister of the Birmingham Mail newspaper, quoted Westside BID manager Mike Olley, who is concerned at the ongoing revenues that bars, clubs, restaurants and other businesses are losing while the tram’s extension is being built.
Mr Olley said: “This whole fiasco is an absolute disgrace for our vital hospitality sector.
“We need the cost of the tram network to be properly audited so that it takes into account how much money businesses have lost while it was being built and now while it is not even running at all.
“That would probably double the cost of the entire scheme – and at what price for the city?”
The interview comes as the Westside Phase Two of the tram line was due to start running “in December”, with hospitality businesses on Broad Street looking forward to a much-needed income boost before Christmas.
But trams are now not expected to reach Hagley Road until the New Year, with all services suspended for what looks set to be at least four weeks because of chassis cracks.
Read the full story here: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/fury-broad-street-trams-not-22157789
