Lib Dems to oppose Edinburgh Council’s tram extension to Newhaven

Liberal Democrat councillors will vote against proposals to extend the tram to Newhaven - believing the inquiry into the problem-hit first phase should be completed first.

The city council’s transport and environment committee will meet on Thursday to consider the tram business case - ahead of full council determining whether to press ahead with the extension on March 14.

The Liberal Democrats have following Conservative councillors in pledging to oppose the plans for five critical reasons.

The party, which as six councillors on the authority, is refusing to back the plans due to the fact that Lord Hardie is yet to report back his findings into the first phase of the tram project. Lib Dems are also claiming the SNP-Labour administration has failed to show how the proposed extension will be linked to public transport improvements across the Capital.

Controversial plans to take trams to Newhaven will carry a £207m price tag.

Fears have also been raised over the impact of Brexit on the viability of the business case, as well as the impact of a £20m dividend from Lothian Buses on the operation of the company. The Lib Dems are also concerned about the impact the project could have on the council’s reserves, amid a period of economic uncertainty.

Liberal Democrat group leader, Cllr Robert Aldridge, said: “This has been an extremely difficult decision for us to take. However, after scrutinising the final business case and reflecting on all the different issues, we do not believe this is the right time to extend the tram.

“Given the problems with building the original line, I think people in Edinburgh expect us to wait for the independent inquiry to report before we press ahead with any extension. We need to be able to look our constituents in the eye and say we learned all the lessons from the inquiry report. We simply cannot do that yet.”

He added: “There are other serious issues too. The SNP led administration has failed to show how a tram extension will link to wider public transport improvements across the city. We don’t know what impact the £20m special dividend from Lothian buses needed to fund the tram will have on bus routes, fares and other operations.

“We also cannot ignore the wider uncertainty and the threats to our economy because of the Tories’ disastrous handling of Brexit. This could drive a coach and horses through many of the assumptions on which the tram business case is built. It could expose the Council to massive financial risk at a time when the public finances are already under huge pressure.

“We wish the circumstances were different but, given where we are, we cannot support pressing ahead with this £200 million project at this time.”

Join our Facebook group Our Edinburgh to share images and news from and around the Capital