Square deal to rescue trams

Deputy council leader Steve Cardownie, leader of the SNP group on the council, today told the Evening News that his group will support its Liberal Democrat coalition partners and back the proposal to take the line to St Andrew Square.

It marks a staggering turnaround for a group that has been calling for the project to be scrapped since 2006.

Its new position comes only a day after the Scottish Government announced it would withhold £72 million of funding if the line stops at Haymarket.

The 16 Lib Dem and 13 SNP councillors are now expected to back the option of taking the tram to St Andrew Square, which will be enough to force through the decision at a specially-arranged council meeting on Friday, only eight days after Labour and Conservative councillors forced through a decision to stop the line at Haymarket.

Last week’s decision has been widely criticised as it would mean the line would run at an operating loss of several million pounds a year.

The pressure increased when the construction consortium headed by Bilfinger Berger warned it would charge much more than the estimated £704m cost of building to Haymarket.

Councillor Cardownie said: “The SNP group, despite all objections to the tram project, will step in to ensure that the line goes to St Andrew Square at least.

“The people of Edinburgh have been short-changed already. They were promised a line to Newhaven and we will not see them short-changed again by seeing the line curtailed to Haymarket, which lacks business sense and common sense.

“Given Bilfinger Berger’s reaction and the news that the Scottish Government would withhold any grant money, we believe that the circumstances have now changed.

“We have refused to get involved in the tram project but, given the situation, it would be wrong not to intervene to resolve this matter by at least giving the people of this city a line to the city centre. To do anything other would be nonsensical.”

Cllr Cardownie said he had been lobbied to change his mind by lots of people this week including a letter from Paul Tetlaw board member of Transform Scotland who said the world was “utterly bewildered” and urged “politicians of all parties to set aside their political differences and work together for the greater good of the city”.

A decision made by the full council cannot be reversed for 12 months, unless Lord Provost George Grubb rules there has been a material change of circumstances. It is thought almost certain that he will judge that information from the consortium and Scottish Government falls into that category.

If all Lib Dem and SNP councillors vote to take the tram to St Andrew Square, it will mean the proposal has the backing of 29 of Edinburgh’s 58 councillors. Even if the Labour, Conservative and Green groups all voted together, that would still only give them 28 votes, as Tory Gordon Buchan cannot vote on the issue due to being a consultant for a firm that acts for TIE.

It means that the only way the St Andrew Square proposal can fail to win backing is if at least two SNP or Lib Dem councillors break from their group’s whip and vote their own way.

Bilfinger Berger is said to have demanded a decision on Friday, and if the council doesn’t make one it could be judged to be in breach of contract and liable for a £161m charge that would have to be paid this year.

Cllr Cardownie, below, said: “I hope that people understand that we have to go back on our previous stance of calling for cancellation because facing £161m of cuts would be too much. We have been left with Haymarket or St Andrew Square and we believe people deserve a line at least to St Andrew Square, and that offers the best chance to repair the damage to Edinburgh and Scotland’s reputation, which has been damaged by TIE’s mismanagement.”

The SNP is likely to face heavy opposition for its U-turn, just a day after Finance Secretary John Swinney said £72m would be withheld if the line ends at Haymarket. Government agency Transport Scotland had been continuing to provide funding since March as the dispute with the contractor continued, but has now stopped.

Council leader Jenny Dawe said: “I am really pleased that our coalition colleagues have decided to vote in favour of a tram to St Andrew Square. It has not been easy for them and I realise they have had to drop a long-standing opposition to trams, but it shows political maturity that they realise that the options of Haymarket or termination are not the best options.”

She added that her understanding was that the Scottish Government will provide the funding previously agreed if the line goes to St Andrew Square.

The Labour and Conservative groups are still deciding on their position ahead of Friday’s meeting.

Councillor Andrew Burns, leader of the Labour group, said: “I think John Swinney’s comments need to be clarified. It is obvious that it says that, if it stops at Haymarket, they will not be funding the remainder of the £500m. What is not clear is if the council reinstates St Andrew Square, will the government give us that money?

“They need to urgently clarify if the council opts to St Andrew Square will £72m be released, and will there be any more on top of that?”

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