In the name of God... Move your tram

Published on Monday 23 August 2010 17:32

AN unholy row is brewing after the Catholic Church demanded that the tram be moved off Princes Street for the Pope's visit next month.

The Church had expected the vehicle to be moved to allow for the Popemobile to pass unobstructed along the Capital's main shopping street during the visit on September 16 and for thousands of spectators to enjoy an uninterrupted view.

Tram firm TIE has, however, yet to commit to the move, saying no plans have been made about whether a temporary home will be found for the tram.

Pope Benedict XVI is set to fly into the Capital and lead a parade along Princes Street and up Lothian Road to Morningside.

Today it emerged that many of the city's key roads are to be closed entirely for up to two hours to allow the Pope to pass.

St John's Road, Lothian Road and The Mound are among those that will be closed amid security concerns ahead of the Pontiff's visit. Other roads which will see sections closed include the A8 Glasgow Road, Corstorphine Road and the West Approach Road.

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Despite the disruption to local residents, tram bosses have still to decide whether they will move the vehicle parked in Princes Street and would only say that discussions were ongoing.

One church source said there were real concerns that views of the Pope would be blocked by the tram. He said: "The assumption was that it would be moved. We've got 10,000 people in Edinburgh and millions more around the world watching this and there will be a big tram parked there."

It is thought it could cost several thousand pounds to hire a crane to move the 2 million vehicle from the street, but the main problem is likely to be finding somewhere else to put it, with the Gogar depot still several months away from completion.

A spokesman for TIE said discussions were continuing about whether the tram would be moved and there would be a decision "quite soon".

UP IN ARMS: The tram might block views of Benedict XVI's process along Princes Street

Meanwhile, it has emerged that a new report about the future of the project has been postponed for a month.

A new version of the project's business case had been expected to be presented to the council on the day of the Pope's visit, leading to concerns from opposition councillors that it would be delayed and a late-night meeting would affect the amount of scrutiny any decision gets. It has now been put back due to the ongoing discussions between TIE and contractor Bilfinger Berger.

Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, the city's transport convener, said: "The chief executive has recommended that the report be delayed by one cycle.

"Much of the requested content requires an outcome from the complex contract negotiations and we want to be able to report as fully to members and the public as possible. Therefore, the September deadline is not achievable."Tram bosses are currently considering a range of proposals put to them by Bilfinger which would lead to an "incremental" opening of the line.

However, the stumbling block is likely to be the cost of the work, with the German firm providing TIE with a "fully scoped" price for the entire project.

The Evening News understands that the current preferred option would see the tram line run from the airport to York Place under plans for a "mature divorce" with Bilfinger. Business leaders in Leith have said building only as far as the city centre would be a "disgrace" and a "kick in the teeth" to traders, who have suffered years of tram-related turmoil.