Trams - practical action needed now

So the trams are to go to St Andrews Square after all. This decision became inevitable after John Swinney’s dramatic intervention in the debate by holding back Scottish Government cash if the Council stuck to the option to terminate the route at Haymarket.

It would undoubtedly have been more helpful if the Scottish Government had shown itself ready to actively engage with the tram project at an earlier stage, instead of taking decisive action only at the last minute. However, now that it has done so, it is absolutely essential that the Scottish Government and its agency Transport Scotland, along with all parties on Edinburgh City Council, now work together to get the best possible result for the people of Edinburgh – and for Scotland.

The Scottish Government could help, for example, by confirming that concessionary bus passes can be used on the tram – that is a potential significant source of revenue, and is also important if the full benefits of an integrated transport system are to be obtained. It could also provide financial flexibility to help meet the funding gap. And given that the Scottish Government has been prepared to provide additional funding for transport projects elsewhere in Scotland, it is unsustainable for them to maintain their position of ‘not a penny more’ for the trams.

And although the St Andrews Square decision will obviously bring the trams to more people and bring in more revenue than the Haymarket option, let’s not forget the people of North Edinburgh and Leith where the tram was originally meant to have gone. Traders and residents along Leith Walk and Constitution Street in particular have suffered years of disruption – it’s been ‘all pain, no gain’. Apparently the St Andrews Square option does keep open the possibility of the line eventually going to Leith and Newhaven, and that’s an example of something that the Scottish Government/Transport Scotland should work on with the Council. If continuing the line to Newhaven does become a real possibility again, then Leithers in particular will want to be assured that the lessons of the tram project so far will be learnt, and that is finished on time and on budget. Leith Walk could not survive even more years of disruption – if it did, then there would be a lot less businesses left to gain from the eventual economic benefits of bringing the tram down Leith Walk.

So whatever happens in the future, there needs to be much more substantial help now to support businesses and economic activity in Leith Walk and Leith. The £445,000 which the Council has agreed to help businesses is a start, but it won’t go that far. And providing a better environment for local residents and business alike is important. Simply tidying up the mess from tram works, repairing pavements, would be a good start, but there’s a lot more that could be done as many local groups have recognised.