‘Edinburgh needs this more than ever’

FORMER Edinburgh City Council leader Donald Anderson insisted the case for bringing back trams to the city is stronger than when the original decision was taken during his reign.

The then Scottish Executive first awarded the local authority £375 million in 2003 to ensure trams would run in the capital for the first time since 1956.

But the project is running at least five years behind schedule and the cost of the project has soared to £776m – even though the proposed network has had to be drastically scaled back.

Mr Anderson, who now heads the Scottish office of public affairs consultancy PPS, which has advised tram contractor Bilfinger Berger, said the project had turned Edinburgh into the “walking wounded” among British cities.

But he insisted the project was still needed to encourage inward investment and help Edinburgh remain competitive.

“At the time of the decision to go ahead, Edinburgh was the fastest growing city economy in the UK. The council was determined to lock in that success and promote Edinburgh for inward investment.

“Ironically, the case for trams is actually stronger now than it was when the decision was taken. Edinburgh has suffered from the fallout caused by the collapse of our principal banks.”