East Midlands mayor plays down talk of tram extension to Derby

CLAIRE WARD SAYS THE MEDIA IS 'OBSESSED' WITH THE IDEA

- By JOSEPH CONNOLLY Local Democracy Reporter

Nottingham's NET tram network was last extended in 2015. Inset, Claire Ward

THERE is no confirmation that a tram link between Derby and Nottingham will happen, says East Midlands mayor Claire Ward.

Speaking to the Post, she said that the media seems to be “obsessed” with the idea - despite it being just one of many options that the £2 billion of transport money afforded to the region could be spent on.

“Lots of the media seem to be obsessed by the idea of a tram in Nottingham and Derby,” she said. “And whatever I say, one moment it’s ‘the tram is on, the next it’s ‘there’s no tram’.

“Actually, we are in a position where we have £2 billion of transport settlements and we need to look in the round, across the whole region and decide: Where do we spend that money to get people moving around the region the best?”