Delay to West London Tram plans

The first trams could start running in 2013

Plans to build a tram system have been delayed after public consultation showed 59% of people oppose it.

Transport for London (TfL) was due to apply in December for permission to start work on the West London Tram, but has put it back until next summer.

The mayor's political rivals said he was "running scared" of an expensive, unpopular scheme.

Concerns included disruption to shops, loss of trees and causing more congestion on residential streets.

The scheme is critical to improving public transport, the environment and the local economy Ealing Council leader Leo Thomson Majority says 'no' to tram

TfL said it will take account of these concerns when refining the design of the scheme, due to run from Uxbridge to Shepherds Bush via Acton, Ealing, Hanwell and Southall.

TfL is now planning further local consultation on some minor changes to the scheme and its design.

Mayor Ken Livingstone said: "I remain totally committed to West London Tram.

"The population in west London is growing rapidly and improving public transport is key to preventing virtual gridlock on the Uxbridge Road in the next decade."

It's expensive, will cause traffic chaos for years while it is built and ultimately won't deliver the transport benefits West Londoners need London Assembly's Richard Barnes

And Ealing Council leader Leo Thomson said the scheme was "critical" and they had to "make sure we get it right".

But Richard Barnes, who represents Ealing for the Conservatives on the London Assembly, said the scheme was "fast unravelling".

"Three out of five people in the mayor's own consultation were opposed to it.

"It's expensive, will cause traffic chaos for years while it is built and ultimately won't deliver the transport benefits West Londoners need."

TfL said it hoped to start work on the system in 2009 and to have the first trams running in 2013.