SOMERVILLE CALLS FOR TRAM APOLOGY

SOMERVILLE CALLS FOR TRAM APOLOGY
COSTS RISES BUT QUESTIONS REMAIN UNANSWERED
Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP (Lothians) (SNP) has renewed her criticism of the Edinburgh trams project as new papers show that total council spending on the project is almost certainly going to more than double to £100 million – and yet, so far it has only managed to raise enough finance to cover £16.4 of it’s original contribution of £45 million. 
Rejecting the positive spin put on the report by Transport Convenor Councillor Gordon MacKenzie, Ms Somerville argues that pro-trams councillors should apologise to the people of Edinburgh for their decision to go ahead with this ‘vanity project’ and the damage they have caused to the reputation of the city.
Ms Somerville said:
“Even with all the spin being put on the figures by TIE, these new council papers paint a very bleak picture.  On the one hand TIE is busy drawing up plans to spend at least another £55 million on the project, and yet so far the council has only managed to raise less than half of its original contribution of £45 million.  How will this affect our already stretched public services?  Will higher developer contributions be sought, or are council tax or bus prices going to be affected? I shudder to think what we could have done for education or housing if this money hadn’t been wasted on this great white elephant. 
“Every Lib Dem, Labour, Conservative and Green councillor and MSP who foisted the trams on the city should apologise for the horrendous mistake they made voting this project through. 
“This report does not provide any clarity.  When will trams actually start running? How much of the tram line will initially be built? The report leaves wide open the prospect that in the short term we’ll get a tram line running only from the airport to Haymarket. Does that mean people in Leith and elsewhere have endured chaos for nothing? Will business there have their developer contributions returned? 
“In short, this paper does not provide councillors with the full facts.  That’s why I am continuing to press for the Scottish Parliament’s Transport Committee to investigate.  It was Labour, Lib Dems and Tories who pushed this project through – it’s about time they contributed towards clearing up the mess”.