Trams 'key to economic growth'

CITY leader Jenny Dawe has renewed her commitment to the troubled tram project, saying it will play a major part in Edinburgh's "economic growth" over the next 30 years.

The council leader's comments follow the publication of a new blueprint which maps out the city's future expansion.

The council-backed study states that trams are "key" to unlocking the full potential of regeneration areas across the Capital, particularly in the city centre, west Edinburgh, the waterfront and south-east Edinburgh.

Authors of the Delivering Capital Growth study still see the tram line linking areas such as Granton, Newhaven, Leith, Craigmillar and Little France by 2030, despite recent funding problems which have led to the project being significantly scaled back.

There are currently major doubts over whether the 600 million budget will even secure a full line between Edinburgh Airport and the waterfront.

It has previously emerged that the first phase of the tram is now only likely to run from the airport to the city centre due to funding problems and delays caused by the dispute with the construction consortium headed by German firm Bilfinger Berger.

However, the Evening News revealed earlier this month that city chiefs now think they can take the tram line to the end of Leith Walk "within four years".

They hope that a second phase will see it extended to the foot of Leith Walk "in the short term".

But the new report argues that the tram system will provide the "vital transport link" to connect all of the city's main growth areas and help attempts to boost Edinburgh's population by one per cent each year for the next ten years.

Councillor Dawe, who heads the city's Liberal Democrat-SNP coalition, said she was "confident" that the system will contribute significantly to Edinburgh's future growth.

She said: "Investment in trams for Edinburgh will help stimulate the city's economic growth over the next 30 years. Major developers have already committed to several sites along the tram route, and the interest shown by others continues to be strong. Edinburgh is one of the last major cities in Europe to introduce a modern light-rail system and I am confident that once up-and-running the tram system will ensure Edinburgh continues to punch above its weight as a competitor in the global arena."

However the city's economic development leader, SNP councillor Tom Buchanan took a different line.

He said: "I didn't write this report and haven't read it in any detail, but I don't believe the premise that the tram is vital for the growth areas of Edinburgh to meet their potential. No-one has ever said to me that a particular development or scheme is more viable if the tram goes there."

But the report is clear that the trams will do just that.

It argues the Capital needs to expand by creating "city extensions". It states: "Integrating land use and transport planning is crucial. The tram is key - the vital public transport link connecting all the city's major growth areas and unlocking their potential for sustainable growth."