Trams PR costs £900,000
TRANSPORT Initiatives Edinburgh, the firm set up to deliver the capital's over-budget and overdue tram project, has spent more than £900,000 on a string of public relations in the past three years, it has emerged.
The arms-length council firm - widely believed to be on the verge of being axed - forked out huge sums to employ specialist PR firms, despite having an in-house press and PR team led by the recently departed director of communications, Mandy Haeburn-Little, who was paid about 140,000.
Figures released by Tie showed five PR firms had shared in 930,000 since 2008, including more than 180,000 to Burt Greener Communications and more than 260,000 to Weber Shandwick.
More than 380,000 was also paid to Media House, a large PR agency specialising in "crisis management" set up by former Scottish Sun editor Jack Irvine. Some 9,000 was also paid to Fan Hitter PR.
Deputy leader of City of Edinburgh Council Steve Cardownie said the figures should be investigated, adding: "These payments look to be totally outrageous. I've always said this project is a Klondike for consultants and lawyers."
A spokesman for Tie said: "As a major construction project, we have to engage with stakeholders and the public effectively."
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