22 November 2009
Letter to Edinburgh Evening News re. Trams and Water Bills
As submitted:
I am not clear exactly why the News chose to run a story relating the tram project to Scottish Water's bills.
However, the statements in the report cannot be allowed to pass without comment.
Anyone who has taken the trouble to look at the ancient pipework exposed during the construction work will be in no doubt that it needed replacing. Indeed Scottish Water admit that their water pipes were in a worse condition than expected. Little wonder then that Scottish Water has a leakage rate of some 40%.
I'm quite sure that many within the organisation are delighted to have the chance to replace the Victorian pipes along Princes Street and even more so in the knowledge that the tram project is part funding this work.
So it is strange indeed that you manage to twist this on its head and imply that the tram project should pay yet more towards the replacement of the city's leaking water mains.
As for the Water Industry Commissioner, I'd suggest that in future he checks the full facts before going into print.
Perhaps the News might now care to run a poll to guage readers views on 40% of Scottish Water's product being lost through leakage.
Paul Tetlaw
Chair, Transform Scotland