Extending the Blackpool Tramway to South Fylde, along with the already approved Blackpool North Station link, will provide an integrated, modern transport system on the Fylde Coast.

Efficient transport is a critical component of economic development. As local campaigners, Trams to Lytham believe passionately that light rail can and must have a greater role in the overall transport plan for the Fylde Coast, delivering the network the region deserves and so badly needs to become an integral part of the 'Northern Powerhouse'.

Linking Blackpool's ever popular tramway (which recently had its highest annual passenger count in 10 years) to the South Fylde Line will solve many of the issues facing the whole of the Fylde Coast. LRT will bring a cheap, reliable and more frequent service that the inadequate route so desperately craves (whether it be line conversion or parallel routing).

Better transport links are also needed to provide more job opportunities to the area, with cheap, quick connections to future economic centres like the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone and the Talbot Gateway development possible through LRT. Satisfaction of the service would be extremely high, as the current tramway is a winner of a TripAdvisor certificate and has around 96% service approval rates, in stark contrast to the current South Fylde service.

Travelling to St Anne’s or Lytham from Blackpool is difficult and lengthy, and neither the current outdated hourly train service or the often unreliable buses are satisfactory for either local or regional travel. A tramway service on the South Fylde Line would vastly improve both of these important issues, and we hope that, alongside any heavy rail improvements, serious consideration is given to create a tram/train/bus interchange on the route and that this option can be taken forward by Lancashire County Council and Blackpool Council.

Light rail has been a revolution in towns and cities across the whole of Europe in recent decades, with Manchester being the nearest and arguably one of the most successful systems to date. Green, efficient transport has proven to be the economic way forward, and the Fylde borough should not miss out on its huge transport potential.

Our public support has grown significantly over the past few years, and we acknowledged that there is a strong local will for such a service, which can be clearly seen on our social media pages.

We hope that you agree and sign and share this petition.

Thank you.

PLEASE NOTE: We are not proposing a tram service along Clifton Drive.

Trams to Lytham Facebook: www.facebook.com/tramstolytham

Trams to Lytham Twitter: @tramstolytham

Trams to Lytham Email: tramstolytham@outlook.com

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