No third option on the table for new tram link in west Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s Transport Convener, Councilor, Stephen Jenkinson, has made it perfectly clear that there is no possibility of him considering another route for the proposed tram extension other than the two options that are currently on the table, that is, the Roseburn Path or the Dean Bridge.

When asked if he would, he told this paper on Monday that it was “not realistic” and that “We’re not going back to the drawing board on this.”

This should not come as a surprise as the council has just concluded a public consultation exercise when these two options were considered. Given that the number of participants exceeded eleven thousand, Councillor Jenkinson obviously thinks that it would make little sense to reopen the debate when the two proposed routes have been canvassed widely and the outcome of the exercise is yet to be evaluated.

This latest twist has only arisen because some in the “Save Roseburn Path” group have suggested alternative routes which will no doubt be reflected in their response to the consultation exercise. But Councillor Jenkinson has launched a pre-emptive strike before Council Officials have even thought about what recommendations they will make to the Council as a result of the exercise.

It is not as if we weren’t warned, after all he previously said that the consultation exercise “was not a referendum,” obviously wary that the opinions expressed to save Roseburn Path might far outweigh those that want to run the tram down it.

I previously wrote that Councillor Jenkinson said in a piece for The Herald newspaper that “the undeniable facts” of going across the Dean Bridge “are that it is calculated to cost hundreds of millions more than the Roseburn Path and ultimately carry fewer passengers.” Aye, aye!

I wonder if he fancies a game of poker some time?