SNP COMMENT ON LABOUR'S TRAM LEGACY

SNP COMMENT ON LABOUR'S TRAM LEGACY
MSP WELCOMES DECISIVE ACTION FROM COUNCIL
SNP MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville has hit out at the Labour, Lib Dem and Tory coalition that inflicted the tram project on Edinburgh as the latest reports show it could now be several years late and that the council may have to borrow over £100 million more to meet the cost over runs.
Ms Somerville gave a cautious welcome to the council's ultimatum to the contractors as she warned that without clarity it would be difficult to assess if this was the right move.
The Lothians MSP said:
"No one can be comforted by today's announcement that the tram project has hit the buffers again - but that contractors have now been given a two week deadline in which the dispute with the council can be resolved or the contract will be cancelled appears to be a step forward.
"Instead of coming to a stop in 2007 when Edinburgh's residents sent a clear message against the trams, Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories have repeatedly allowed this issue to rumble on spending vital funds on a transport folly..
"After years of disruption the Lib Dems, Labour and Tories may finally see what Edinburgh's travelling public have known all along, that this is the wrong project in the wrong place.
"That the council is standing up to the contractors is a welcome and I hope decisive step - but without clarity over the ongoing disputes, current costs and projected completion dates council tax payers, and even elected councillors cannot be clear that this will not simply result in a prolonged and costly court battle.
"As Labour continually clamour for more spending in Edinburgh and across the country and cry foul over cuts it must be remembered that their vote for the tram project took £500 million out of public spending to pour into unwanted and unneeded holes along Leith Walk."