'There are better things to invest in for Northampton rather than trams'

There are better things to invest in

P Lucas (September 24) brings up the topic of trams. Admittedly it was mainly in the context of e-scooters and I share the concerns of correspondents over that transport. It is wonderful that government has given the town profile by choosing us for the experiment.

However, the project is folly and there are better things to invest in. The Lucas tram proposal is interesting although limited and perhaps a little questionable.

Over 30 years many systems have been put forward.

In the 1990s there was a rapid transport system which was given considerable coverage in the Chronicle. Prior to this, bus user group stalwart Roy Sears, now sadly died, had promoted a tram system.

In the 2017 county elections two separate LRT (similar to tram) systems were proposed. The Brampton Valley section of the Northampton scheme could well be replaced by re-opening conventional rail to Harborough. There is still a lot of scope for various schemes within the town.

This ties in well with Joel Lamy’s article (September 17) on new rail links from Castle station. We are actually in a key position linking East Midlands, West Midlands and South Midlands. With the present, still increasing, size of the town, rail links to Peterborough and Oxford are strongly desirable.

Colin Bricher

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