Row erupts over Edinburgh tram extension as SNP and rivals clash on Roseburn route
SNP says own survey shows ‘very considerable opposition’ to Roseburn Path route
SNP election candidate Euan Hyslop has rejected accusations his party has adopted its position on Edinburgh's proposed North-South tramline just to win votes.
The SNP group on the city council has said it supports a North-South line, but will oppose both the Roseburn Path and Orchard Brae options for the northern section and wants the work to begin first on the southern section between the city centre and the Royal Infirmary, while officials find an alternative route between Granton and the city centre.
But Labour and the Lib Dems have accused them of electioneering. Labour transport convener Stephen Jenkinson said the SNP was being "reckless and premature", pointing out the results of the public consultation had not yet been published and insisting all viable routes had been considered.
Cllr Jenkinson claimed it was an attempt to win middle class votes in Roseburn at the expense of communities in Drylaw, Granton and Muirhouse, who he said would benefit from the new tramline.
And Lib Dem transport spokesman Kevin Lang described the SNP position as "cynical electioneering of the worst kind".
But on Friday Cllr Hyslop, the SNP candidate for Edinburgh Northern - in what is seen as a tight race between the SNP and the Lib Dems - denied the party's stance was linked to the election.
He said: "The responsible thing for our group to do was to come to a decision in this on advance of it coming to committee, with good time for us to consider it. It was a thorough discussion we had around the issues.
"The reason why we have gone public with it now is not because of the election, other than the fact the Save the Roseburn Path group have asked all of the candidates to make a public statement about their position on it. I wouldn't have gone public if it hadn't been for the fact they'd asked me to.
"The criticisms of it being electioneering don't really stand up to any scrutiny."
And he rejected the idea the SNP's position was premature. "I've been speaking to people across this part of Edinburgh for the last number of months and we had a survey out ourselves.
“It's very clear there's very considerable opposition to the use of Roseburn Path for the tram extension and that will be borne out in the consultation.
“For a lot of people it is a very important issue. It's something that comes up the closer you get to the path - and geographically the more strongly held the opinions are about it.
“I know a lot of people who use it day to day. One of the things that's said is there will still be a space for cycles and people walking alongside the tram. But people who use the path will tell you it's already quite a tight space for cyclists and pedestrians without trying to squeeze a tram in."
And he said the plan was for the tramline to be single track for a stretch of the Roseburn Path. "I don't think that would be the best decision for the tram network itself. Trams would end up having to wait."
Meanwhile, Euan Baxter of the Save the Roseburn Path campaign, welcomed the SNP position. He said: "It's good to see politicians responding to local concerns. It's obviously becoming a major issue for the Scottish Parliament election."
But Kayleigh Kinross-O’Neill, Green candidate in Edinburgh Northern, as well as co-convenor of Edinburgh Greens and transport spokesperson, echoed the electioneering accusation.
She said: “This change of position by the SNP seems to have been timed around the Holyrood election, rather than any new evidence about the Roseburn route. They're clearly worried about losing a seat in the Scottish Parliament elections just a few weeks away.
“And since we still haven’t seen the consultation report, and haven’t seen the implications or costs of the various route options, this announcement seems premature and irresponsible.
“In contrast, Green councillors have said we will examine the consultation report carefully before coming to any conclusions on which route is best. We also need to know what options are available to mitigate the impact on active travel and nature if the Roseburn route is chosen, and what the costs and impacts of any alternative would be. Until that information is known, it would be premature to rule any option out altogether.”