We’ve just had a two week September sitting in the House of Commons – always seems a bit odd, as just as we get into the swing of things, we break up again for the ‘conference recess’ which allows MPs to attend their respective party conferences.
As Labour’s conference is next week, I’ve been able to use the recess week to visit a lot of local organisations here in Edinburgh North and Leith to keep up with their activities and their concerns. Earlier this week, I called in at a number of Leith organisations - the Duncan Place Resource Centre, the Pilmeny Development Project, and ‘Out of the Blue’. All doing good work, although with varying concerns about future funding. Also a common theme that the effects of economic downturn and unemployment are now becoming more apparent in Leith – both in the effect on individuals and visual signs such as more and more empty shops, making the area look run-down. It’s a concern I share, both through what I hear at my surgeries and see in the streets. Local reasons for the Coalition government to change course – I’m sure that’ll be a major theme of our conference next week.
Edinburgh North & Leith also has the HQ of a number of a Scottish organisations, who also have local contacts and activities in the area. This week, I’ve visited NIDOS (the 'Network of International Development Organisations in Scotland), VSO, Living Streets, and Transform Scotland. I also met with the new Elizabeth Finn Trust, which provides grants to individuals in Edinburgh in financial hardship.
Friday there are my normal MP surgeries, and a meeting with some of the local Labour councillors – and Saturday I hope to visit the Leith Neighbourhood Partnership Public Meeting, Summerfest at Broughton High School and the North Edinburgh Community Festival at the Forthquarter park by Telford College.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
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.
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.
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