TOURISM, THE EAST LANCASHIRE STEAM RAILWAY AND THE REGENERATION OF RAMSBOTTOM

Early day motion 499, tabled 28 March 2001 by David Chaytor (Labour). Signed by 26 members.

That this House notes the achievement of the local community in Ramsbottom in progressively transforming a traditional Lancashire Industrial town into one of Greater Manchester's prime residential locations and tourist centres; particularly congratulates all those associated with the development of the East Lancashire Railway and the introduction of steam trains on the route from Bury to Rawtenstall; recognises the hard work of local businesses in contributing to the regeneration of Ramsbottom and commends their efforts as a model to be considered by other small declining industrial towns; further recognises the potential for development of the local tourist economy with the staging of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester; notes the importance of a direct rail link from Ramsbottom to Manchester, via Bury, if this potential is to be fully realised; further notes the additional advantages to commuters in Summerseat and the Rossendale Valley of such a direct rail link; welcomes the efforts of the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority in pursuing this idea; and calls on the Government to review the financial and legal context in which steam railways can be fully integrated into the national public transport network.

Signatures by party: Labour 21, Labour/Co-operative 3, Liberal Democrat 2.