11 March 2010
Edinburgh trams - letter to Edinburgh Evening News
Revised version of letter:
Dear Sir
It is very unfortunate that the tram project has been beset by contractual problems. However I have no doubt that, when finished, it will be a great success as is the case with all recent trams schemes in Europe.
The real question you and your readers should be asking is this: Why is it that the Parliament seeks to cap funding to a public transport project in Edinburgh when less than 50 miles away in Glasgow a new motorway is receiving unlimited government funds, despite being nearly three times over the original budget.
The 5 mile extension of the M74 motorway was costed at £245m when approved by the then Transport Minister Sarah Boyack. A subsequent Public Inquiry concluded that the new road would generate more traffic, worsen social exclusion, increase pollution and create no jobs. In spite of this the road was approved. It is still under construction with the current estimated cost approaching £700m.
Now that smacks of double standards and a failure to support Scotland's capital. Certain local politicians might have more credibility if they stopped knocking Edinburgh and gave us some true comparisons with other transport projects.
Paul Tetlaw
Chair, Transform Scotland