Letter: Jeffrey's reassurance over trams off track

The response of Edinburgh Trams chief executive Richard Jeffrey (Opinion, 27 August) shows his increasing frustration that the public continues to find it difficult to accept his repeated assurances that all is under control in relation to the project.

It does not need construction industry experience to realise that all the obvious evidence is that the project is not under control.

The contractor was appointed to construct the works, which is patently not happening. The recent publication of figures from TIE that something less than 20 per cent of the work has been done and well over 50 per cent of the budgeted funds have been spent does not sit easily with the assertion of firm control by TIE. Nor does it support the veiled suggestion that the questions are being voiced by troublesome contributors.

Concern about the veracity of TIE's statements is widespread and from responsible sources such as the Scottish Parliament and knowledgeable journalists, in addition to experienced construction industry professionals who observe the lack of activity and question how the project is to be finished when nothing is happening over extensive sections of the system.

The credibility of TIE's assertions will only be accepted with any confidence when work is seen to be proceeding with something like the necessary application of resources and a firm completion date and final cost estimate.

It should be noted that in 1990 Athens decided to construct a 25km tram system. Work commenced in March 2002 and was completed in July 2004. The route included some distance through the centre of the city, which almost certainly offered similar difficulties with services and disruption to traffic to those experienced in Edinburgh yet the work was completed approximately within budget and in accordance with the programme. Greece has a bad reputation in relation to procurement of capital projects yet it has shown Edinburgh a clean pair of heels.

Until TIE can demonstrate that work is progressing and firm estimates of final cost have been established it seems that Mr Jeffrey will have to live with continuing questioning about where this project is headed.

JOHN GRANT

Dean Park Mews

Edinburgh

It ISN'T often that one gets offered a second chance in life, but events are conspiring to give Edinburgh's ill-starred tram project just such an opportunity.

Possibly the most important change, since the tram was being planned in early years of the century, is the new work being done that shows the potential for pollution.

The city's historical trunk roads are being emptied to provide tram-only thoroughfares. This traffic is already having to be squeezed into residential roads never designed for modern HGVs and masses of buses.? Perhaps our trams need to have all the space to themselves because they are actually light railways. But happily we now have a chance to halt the scheme at Haymarket station - where it has effectively ground to a halt anyway - giving the city an airport link, and shuttle for some major business parks. We can use the time between now and when cash will again be cheaply available to make sure we do build the tram system that this city deserves and not a global reputation for carelessly vandalising one of the world's best cities? because we were too proud, stupid or blinkered to think again.

Name and address supplied

The Edinburgh tram scheme has been beset with so many problems of late that I have even heard it described as "god forsaken".

Now that it has been decided to move (at not inconsiderable expense) the tram on display in Princes Street so that the "Popemobile" might not be obscured, perhaps the Holy Father could be persuaded to pause for a few moments and bless the tram and its rails.

It certainly could do no harm and his blessing could well help to restore peace and harmony to the relationship between the tramway's promoters and contractors, thus promoting an early opening of the line.

JOHN EOIN DOUGLAS

Spey Terrace

Edinburgh