One of the trams which could come to Preston, and an artist impression of the Deepdale station

It’s taken more than six years but plans for a tram line in Preston have been given permission to accelerate.

Numerous attempts to run a test line in Deepdale have been derailed by Preston City Council’s planning committee.

But on Thursday (10 November) councillors voted through the trial line and station.

Preston Trampower have been succesful in their plans to build a tram station, platform and tram depot shed in a former coal yard off Deepdale Mill Street.

A section of the disused train line between Skeffington Road and Deepdale Street will be brought back into use – what used to be the Longridge to Preston railway line.

Technical director of Preston Trampower Lewis Lesley said: “Bringing trams back to Preston after more than 80 years was always going to be an ambitious undertaking, but hopefully this planning consent can lead to bigger and better things in the future.

“We still believe this exciting pilot project can act as a precursor to a fully operational tram system for Preston that can be easily extended across the city and link up to other transport hubs.”

Preston Corporation Tram No.18 Fishergate, Preston 1906

Read more: A brief history of when trams were on Preston’s streets

First plans for the trams were tabled back in 2010 but have been blocked due to traffic concerns in the Deepdale area.

PWA Planning tabled the most recent plans and said the scheme was ‘ambitious’.

Daniel Hughes, senior planner at PWA Planning, said: “We’ve worked with Preston Trampower to help satisfy a variety of planning constraints and we’re pleased this ambitious scheme finally has permission to move forward.

“The project had a rather long planning history, but since being brought in we’ve been able to help the company devise a clear strategy to achieve their objectives.”

Here’s how Blog Preston readers currently feel about trams

The test tram line will not be taking paying customers, but is to be used as a demonstration line.

If successful the tram lines could stretch from the railway station out to BAE at Samlesbury.

What do you think of the decision? Should we have trams back in Preston? Let us know in the comments below