Council calls for funding to expand city's Metro

Image caption, The city council wants the Metro to run to Hendon, Grangetown and Ryhope

City councillors in Sunderland are calling for funding to expand the Metro 鈥渁s a matter of priority".

They are to write to the Secretary of State for Transport asking for support to expand the service to Hendon, Grangetown and Ryhope.

Sunderland City Council said it also supported the re-opening of the as well as extending the Metro to Washington.

Councillors said they hoped the expansion would be funded by the Network North programme, from 拢36bn saved by scrapping the Northern leg of HS2.

The drive to find funding was raised by Liberal Democrat Councillors, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A motion was passed at a full council meeting, when it was agreed that expanding the Metro across Sunderland was 鈥渙f equal importance to re-opening the Leamside Line in developing our vibrant city鈥.

鈥榃e have ambition鈥

Liberal Democrat councillor Ciaran Morrissey, who represents Hendon, said: 鈥淚f we can set out our business case beforehand, say specifically yes we want investment in our our city and that is specifically what we want, we stand a better chance of getting that done."

Meanwhile Labour鈥檚 Michael Mordey, who also represents the Hendon ward, said the local authority had long supported transport ambitions but "had not been backed with government support."

鈥淎ll they have to do is give us the share of our funding, we have the plans, we have the ambition, give us the tools and the funding we need," he added.