Oldhamers- You Need The Metrolink

For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled.
-Richard P. Feynman , US Physicist

Every time I log on to Facebook I see people in Oldham complaining about the roadworks that are necessary for the preparation of the Metrolink, due to roll into town in 2014. Facebookers are claiming that their journeys are taking twice as long. The roads around the Mumps roundabout in the centre of the town are permanently jammed and everyone is, predictably, very angry about it. Whether there was a better way of implementing the development of the Metrolink scheme is outside my area of knowledge, I’m afraid, but I know this much: there was never a time when we weren’t going to get trams in Oldham. It was always going to happen.

A couple of years ago, greater Manchester residents were asked to vote yes or no for the introduction of a congestion charge. The revenue created from this was supposed to fund the extension of the Metrolink system. The charge was voted against by all ten boroughs of Greater Manchester. Then, in May 09, the Metrolink got the go-ahead anyway.

I voted ‘against’ because the Metrolink is the next step in the natural advancement of transport technology. Engineers and scientists redeveloped the old tram system- popular forty years ago or so- because technology now allows us to travel faster and cleaner than previously- it’s a more environmentally-friendly method of transport than buses, the old diesel trains or cars. The government should be providing this anyway, without us paying extra. Hence, I knew the whole congestion charge policy was a lie, and another attempt to squeeze more money out of the already over-taxed motorist.

The problem we have, now that the Metrolink is under construction- sans congestion charge- is that the roadworks haven’t been properly thought through- there was already a number of diversions for road improvements before Metrolink work began. But there has always been road improvements in operation in Oldham, for as long as I can remember at least. And I’m 29. Whether there was a better way of organising the development, I don’t know. It’s not my area of expertise, I’m afraid, but consider these points:

1)    There are no jobs in Oldham.

2)    The jobs are all in Manchester.

3)    The Metrolink will officially take 2 years to get here- probably longer if we’re being realistic.

4)    In 2 years time or more, there will still be no jobs in Oldham. The work will still be in the city.

5)    The Metrolink implementation has provided and will continue to provide some jobs.

The point that I’m trying to make is that to shun the Metrolink would have reinforced the world’s perception that Oldhamers are nothing more than a bunch of reactionary luddites- an image that many residents are all too happy to conform to. My message to them is this: Grasp what decade we are in and accept it. The Metrolink is coming. You need it. Yes, it is a ballache at the moment. But it must happen. It is unavoidable.