South Wales Evening Post - 21 May 2007
The brakes have been put on controversial plans to drive the bendy bus route as far as Mumbles.
The proposed scheme, which would have seen part of the foreshore dug up, prompted thousands of people to sign a petition in protest.
Now Swansea Council bosses have confirmed the unpopular plans will not be going ahead.
Council Leader Chris Holley said: "I want to make it absolutely clear the council has no plans to take the Streetcar to Mumbles."
Tory councillors had pledged to fight any loss of promenade to make way for a bus lane to accommodate the 60ft buses.
Calling it a "crazy project", they also lent their support to a 3,000-name petition.
The buses are due to begin operations late next year as part of a £10 million transport scheme aimed at cutting traffic congestion.Councillor Holley added: "During recent weeks, there have been claims the council plans to extend the route of the Streetcar to Mumbles.
"There have even been rumours the foreshore would be dug up to make way for the route.
"Our plan is to run the Streetcar along a route between Morriston Hospital and Singleton Hospital.
"That is the full extent of the plan."
The idea would have meant part of the foreshore going between Blackpill and West Cross to allow for the buses to speed through.
Councillor Rene Kinzett, leader of the Conservatives on Swansea Council, said: "We went to a council members' seminar early this year and were shown computer generated images of the buses going along the foreshore, on the promenade.
"It was put forward as a possibility. And only last month a council highways officer said the proposal to take it to Mumbles remained on the table.
"While we support the idea of a metro system, we think that would be a crazy thing to do.
"The environmental benefit of cutting journey times by a small amount wouldn't offset the loss of that sort of natural amenity.
"We want better public transport and shorter journey times between key points in the city.
"We want those key points linked up but there's no benefit in sending it down to Mumbles."
John Hague, cabinet member for environment, said the Streetcar scheme had the support of transport campaigners and passenger groups - including the disabled.
"The recent trial run between the city centre and Morriston Hospital was a huge success," he said."
It demonstrated what a wonderful addition the Streetcar will be to Swansea and its many commuters."
Work on road junctions and other infrastructure will help ensure journey times are not affected by peak hour congestion.
The next round of works, due to begin in July, will provide the route between The Kingsway and County Hall.
Mumbles resident Jean Harris of Castle Acre Gardens said: "Hooray! At last, common sense has prevailed."
