Council at odds over timetable for an inquiry into tram project

EDINBURGH City Council insists the “ball is in the Scottish Government’s court” over when an inquiry into the tram project gets under way.

Council leader Andrew Burns said he and colleagues had told ministers they wanted to see a hearing start “as soon as possible”.

However, the Scottish Government dismissed claims it has ruled out getting the inquiry started before trams are due to start running in the summer of 2014.

The new council has been under pressure to clarify its stance as it had been campaigning heavily for a hearing to get under way early.

Deputy council leader Steve Cardownie warned an inquiry may prove a distraction while there is work to be done.

However, Mr Burns said he and transport leader Lesley Hinds held ministerial meetings and underlined the need for progress to be made.

Ms Hinds added: “We believe they have said in the past that they don’t want to get an inquiry under way until the project is finished.”

However a spokesman for Transport Scotland said it had never given any commitments on dates and had no record of any ministers ruling out an inquiry until the project was completed.