Tram award 'helps new line plan'

Officials say the tram is the most successful in the country

The case for extending Nottingham's tram network has been boosted by winning a government award, city officials have said.

The system won a Regeneration Award for helping to develop parts of the city, including Radford and Hucknall.

More than £1m has been spent on environmental improvements, like paving, lighting and landscaping.

Plans for a second line to Chilwell and Clifton have been under consideration by the government since 2003.

Councillor John Taylor, who chairs the partnership which runs the trams, said: "If the government is to fund any tram system in the country, it will be Nottingham.

"This is the most successful tram system in the country financially, we are the most successful operationally.

"We meet all our passenger targets, we meet our punctuality and cleanliness targets - it has succeeded beyond anybody's expectations."