Trams chief: 'There are still major obstacles for him to overcome'

Published on Wednesday 10 December 2008 10:35

THE admission by new trams boss David Mackay that the cost of the project is likely to rise will take few by surprise. But if there are any positives to be taken from his assessment of the situation it is that there is not "a cat's chance in hell" of it becoming, as some critics have predicted, a repeat of the parliament fiasco.

Bringing in such a large and complex project on budget and on time was always going to be a tough task but the public should take some reassurance from the fact that Mr Mackay maintains that the work is at least on schedule. Allowing the timetable to slip and prolonging the agony in areas affected by the tram works would have been unforgivable and the result would be the loss of what little public goodwill still exists for the project.

There has been severe disruption in areas like Haymarket and Leith Walk, but it is hard to see how this could have been totally avoided in such busy thoroughfares.

Chaos on Princes Street at The Mound was only halted by suspending the road closures, but not for long. It will be closed for most of next year and while that decision is also unavoidable it is only to be hoped that a better traffic management scheme than the botched one implemented and quickly scrapped in October will be in place.

With more effective traffic control the closure may not be as damaging as some fear, although how the bus bottleneck around George Street can be avoided is not yet clear. Total closure for one longer period – with the exception of the summer festivals period – has always seemed the lesser of two evils compared with a sporadic series of irritating limited closures. Not only would it be confusing but would extend the works by up to six months and increase the cost in the process.

But although much of the groundwork on the project has already been done by Mr Mackay's predecessors Michael Howell and Willie Gallagher there are still major obstacles for him to overcome.

If, by his own admission, costs will inevitably rise, one of his key tasks will be to restrict any increases being sought by either contractors or suppliers. In that respect his arrival at the helm could prove timely as his extensive business background, and his reputation for not shying away from a fight, should make him the ideal candidate to conduct such negotiations.

He left John Menzies a much-changed and stronger organisation and launched the much-needed revolution at Murrayfield so he he'll want to make sure Holyrood on Wheels doesn't end up on his CV.