'Stone rottweiler' security for trams mediation talks

Mar Hall, near Glasgow, which counts the likes of Kylie Minogue amongst its former guests, will play host to representatives from both sides of the long-running dispute.

The secluded hotel, which is set in a 19th-century baronial mansion, charges up to 500 a night for a room and is known for its discretion.

Senior figures from tram firm TIE and the city council will meet with those from Bilfinger Berger, Siemens and Transport Scotland as they attempt to find a way through the deadlock that has seen the 545 million project all but stall.

The talks, which are to be led by an unnamed American mediator, have been shrouded in secrecy, with TIE refusing to confirm even which day they are taking place.

However, the Evening News understands the first of the meetings will take place today, before mediation talks begin in earnest tomorrow. All hopes for the project rest with the discussions, which are expected to take just a short time.

Described as a Scottish base for the world's A-list, Mar Hall lies a short drive from Glasgow Airport and the Glasgow headquarters of Transport Scotland.

TIE's new chairman, Vic Emery, also lives in the city's west end.

Set within a 240-acre woodland, it has 53 rooms, a spa and a championship golf course named after the Earl of Mar.

Guests are told to expect a "special experience" from the hotel, which overlooks the River Clyde and has views towards the Kilpatrick Hills.

One review of the prestigious hotel noted the lengths it went to preserve the anonymity of its guests, describing it as a "stone rottweiler".

Lothians SNP MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville, a long-standing critic of the trams, said there was no need for the talks to take place in such a luxurious setting.

She said: "I fully accept they might want to meet outside of Edinburgh, but I'm sure they could have found somewhere cheaper.

"Any community hall would have been just as good and would have perhaps been better at helping focus minds to find a speedy resolution."

Edinburgh Pentlands Conservative MSP David McLetchie said: "This is a public relations own goal for what seems to be a money-no-object project, which will certainly not impress the taxpayers of Edinburgh.

"While mediation talks need to be held in private locations, I'm sure there could have been a more economical venue."

Lothians Labour MSP George Foulkes added: "This just shows how out of touch the council are."

It is unclear how many of those taking part in the talks are booked in to stay at the hotel, if any.

However, a source close to the consortium of which Bilfinger Berger and Siemens is part said representatives of those two companies were staying at the 60-a-night Holiday Inn at Glasgow Airport.

A TIE spokeswoman said: "We have made clear that we are adhering to confidentiality so we won't be commenting.

"The most important factor about the mediation is that it is able to happen away from the public gaze and given every chance to succeed in order to deliver a solution for the people of Edinburgh."