Design watchdog slams tram plans

Published on Friday 25 January 2008 09:27

A SCOTTISH Government watchdog has slammed the design of the city's tram line.

The report by Architecture and Design Scotland (ADS) highlights potential "safety issues" from having tram stops in the middle of the city's busiest streets and also hits out at tram chiefs for having produced no "meaningful" graphics of the trams, platforms and stops so far into the scheme.

The design quango is also concerned that the tram design appears to have been considered in isolation to the rest of the route's street fixtures and fittings.

The ADS report concluded: "We continue to be concerned at the low priority given to public realm, urban design and related funding considerations, when such aspects will have profound and long lasting consequences for the capital city.

"The project lacks joined-up thinking, and a lack of management is evident in the approach to funding, the integration with retail, streetscape or other initiatives, and the co-ordination of the project across various city departments".

Tram bosses today defended the scheme's design and added the ADS report was based on a presentation from November and progress had since been made.

But city politicians said the concerns raised in the report were shared by many people across the Capital.

Steve Cardownie, the city's SNP leader and deputy leader of the council, said: "We have always been concerned by how the trams will fit with the city's streets and TIE have not really been forthcoming with answers so far.

On the issue of tram stops in the centre of the streets, ADS is concerned the arrangement will create safety problems, with people having to cross busy roads to reach the pavements.

Tram and council bosses also came under fire from ADS for not considering the needs of pedestrians and cyclists so far.

Willie Gallagher, executive chairman of TIE, said: "This project has been designed in conjunction with the people of Edinburgh for the people of Edinburgh. We totally refute the accusation of being 'technically led' and are confident that when the trams begin to run in 2011 all will agree that the scheme fulfils the aspirations and expectations of all."

Andrew Holmes, the council's director of city development, said: "We fundamentally disagree with what Architecture and Design Scotland have said. Many of their comments betray their lack of understanding of the process, as well as the discussions and agreements which took place around the approval of the parliamentary Bills for tram lines one and two.

"We will continue to liaise with ADS and would hope that they will come to show a better understanding of the project."

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&#149 ADS report on city's trams