Film Number

10857

Title

THE CASE FOR A LIGHT RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM IN GREATER MANCHESTER

Producer

MULTIVISION FOR GMPTE

Date

1986-7

Gauge

VHS

Colour

colour

Sound

sound

Running Time

19 mins 49 secs

Description

A film produced for GMPTE that presents the case for investing in a Light Rapid Transport system in Greater Manchester. The film opens with Dr. David Maltby, Director of Transport Studies at Salford University, stating the need for a LRT system in the region. We then see William Woollard in Amsterdam talking about the advantages that it has brought to the city, and back in Manchester he tells us how Manchester could benefit from a LRT system in the same way. He talks about the current problems in Manchester with traffic congestion and how punitive measures to try to reduce city centre traffic are driving people and businesses away. He then presents the case from Sale in Greater Manchester to demonstrate that these issues are county-wide. We hear from Cllr. Andrew Fender, Chairman of the Transportation Strategy Committee, who describes a history of failed attempts to improve public transport and the need for a long term solution. We then see more scenes from Amsterdam of the LRT system in action to show how convenient and accessible it is. Tony Young, Principal Planning Officer at GM Transport and Dr. David Maltby talk about the current problems with public transport in Greater Manchester, the possible solutions and why LRT is the best solution. Graham Bishop, General Manager of Binns in South Shields, describes the increase in people and business brought about by the introduction of LRT to his area. John Brooks, President of Manchester Board of Trade and Kay Ralph, Northern Area Manager of clothing retailer 'Surprise' talk about how they support the introduction of LRT due to the potential for improvements to levels of trade and employment in Manchester. Keith Applebee, Managing Director of GEC, talks about the stimulus to the manufacturing industry if an LRT system is introduced and Cllr. Andrew Fender concludes with a discussion about potential government investment in the system.