A CAMPAIGNER championing public transport – specifically the Midlands’ railways – has called a public meeting to announce he will be standing for the West Midlands Mayorship.

Halesowen’s Tim Weller says he will be standing as an independent candidate for the 2020 election for the post of West Midlands Mayor – a position currently held by Andy Street.

Mr Weller’s manifesto includes freeing up congested roads and railways by using trains on existing but unused railway lines, rather than a proposed tram network.

He is advocating fareless, electric buses and the abandonment of the Metro and Diesel Sprint schemes.

Mr Weller – who ran as an independent candidate for Halesowen and Rowley Regis in last year’s general election – said: “No more good railway infrastructure wrecked forever by buildings, roads and trams.

“Instead, commuter trains from the Black Country into Birmingham on the 150-year-old railway line that has still not been lost and can still be used.

“No more railway commuters packed in like sardines from Stourbridge!

“Why cut a 120km principal mainline railway through the congested West Midlands in two halves with a tramline, a railway test track and a trail of trees, Japanese knotweed and undergrowth?

“When absent trains on 56km of track could have their trains and stations back for less money than using trams on only 6.7km.”

The public meeting will take place at the Hasbury Christian Fellowship on Albert Road, Halesowen, next Wednesday (November 28), starting at 7.30pm.