Council backs down in row on interchange

CITY council chiefs were today said to have backed down in a row over who foots a £5 million bill for road improvements at the Gogar roundabout connected with the new train-tram interchange.

Reports suggested council taxpayers will now have to pick up most of the cost.

The council had demanded Network Rail pay for widening the roundabout and installing signals to cope with extra traffic generated by the 35m interchange, which will allow rail passengers to switch to the tram to reach Edinburgh Airport.

But now the council is said to have proposed Network Rail should pay only 250,000 of the costs, plus a further 200,000 towards a park and ride facility.

The dispute has delayed work on the first major part of a 1 billion package of rail improvements in the Central Belt.