A SPECIAL task force must be set up to ensure Merseytram is finally delivered to the region, key regional figures said last night.

The call came as the Daily Post can reveal that a tram system has once again been placed at the top of the region’s transport “wish-list”, the Local Transport Plan.

Liverpool One developers Grosvenor, who opened the second phase of their £1bn development yesterday, are now eager to improve accessibility to the city centre for shoppers, and the tram is seen as a key component.

Speaking after Princess Anne had performed yesterday’s second phase opening, Liverpool One chief executive Joanne Jennings said: “I think it’s all about access-ibility in any city, and Liverpool is no different.We need to make sure people can easily get into the city centre. If the tram is on the agen-da and a possibility, we should have a task force that’s seriously looking at bringing it to the city.

“There appears to be a window of opportunity.”

Steve Broomhead, the chief executive of the North West Development Agency, immediately threw his support behind the task force plan and said the Warrington-based agency would be keen to take a seat on the board.

Merseytram Line One, from Liverpool to Kirkby, is top of Merseytravel’s priorities for schemes funding because of its per-ceived high economical, environmental and social benefits.

Its cost is now estimated at £344m, up from £328m when it was scrapped in 2005 when then Transport Secretary Alistair Darling refused to hand over a government contribution of £170m.

Earlier this year, Trans-port Secretary Ruth Kelly, who is to stand down in an impending cabinet re-shuffle, agreed to put the government money back on the table if it was cost-effective and commanded broad support of the Merseyside councils.

It is understood delicate negotiations involving Merseytravel, the Treas-ury and the Department for Transport are contin-uing, but it is not known what impact Ms Kelly’s resignation will have on the likelihood of success.