MOTORISTS will be enticed to take the tram with the news that Metrolink is to create park and ride sites at Besses and Whitefield at a cost of £590,000.

The developments will allow drivers to park their cars and to board trams. Altogether, four park and ride car parks costing a total of £1.3 million are being established at stops along the Bury-Altrincham line. The other two are planned for Crumpsall and Navigation Road.

The Whitefield Metrolink station site will ultimately create 150 car parking spaces and a three-bus turning circle. The estimated cost is £425,000.

At Besses o' th' Barn, six new disabled spaces will be provided. Linked to a new Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliant access ramp, this will lead to a significant improvement for users. The work there will cost £165,000.

Elsewhere, a new car park for 43 vehicles will be set up at Crumpsall with a further 90 car parking spaces to be established at the Navigation Road site.

Funding for the park and ride car parks is to be provided by the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA).

The authority's Bury spokesman, Councillor Gordon Sharkey said: "I'm delighted to see that a further 199 parking spaces will soon be made available for Metrolink users on the Bury line.

"All the schemes have been subject to extensive local consultation during the planning process and received widespread support. So, I'm sure people living along the Bury-Altrincham line will welcome the announcement."

He added: "I'm also pleased that all the schemes will involve upgrading access to the stops to the latest Disability Discrimination Act standards.

"Besses o' th' Barn, in particular, will benefit from a new access ramp that will greatly improve access for Metrolink users with disabilities. I also welcome plans to introduce a three bus turning circle at the Whitefield stop as this will really help to integrate cars, buses and trams."