Transport and Environment Convener Stephen Jenkinson writes in Scotland on Sunday (June 21) about the importance of trams to our future city.
The Capital is changing at a rapid pace. We’re the fastest growing city in Scotland, at twice the rate of Glasgow, in the fastest growing region in the country.
This trend represents significant opportunities in terms of economic growth, investment and jobs but also places increasing pressure on our communities, and on the city’s transport infrastructure. We’re also facing into the climate, nature, and housing emergencies, alongside the urgent need to tackle poverty and improve the life chances of people living in the poorest areas of our city.
Addressing these challenges means being bold and ambitious in our solutions. Mass transit, with trams at the heart, is one of the key drivers in making our city work better for everyone. Doing nothing, as some are suggesting, is simply not an option.
We’ve now seen the thousands of responses to our public consultation, along with the market research we carried out. The sheer volume of these demonstrates the importance of this key issue to our residents, and the main themes won’t come as a surprise to anyone who has followed the debate closely.
Whilst these will form an important element of the business case we’ll consider in September, I’ve consistently said that we need to wait for all the evidence before we make such an important decision – and my view hasn’t changed. We should not forget either that the purpose of the consultation is to gather as much information as possible so councillors can make an informed decision, not to act as a referendum on certain sections of the plans.
It’s disappointing to see that many have already cemented their positions without waiting to see the full picture. As elected members it’s our responsibility to act in the long-term interests of the city, rather than chasing short-term political gains. It would also be deeply irresponsible of us to not see this process through properly and ultimately make a well-considered decision based on facts, not votes.
Our plans for the north-south tram represent a strategic opportunity not only for Edinburgh, but the wider region and country. We all benefit from a thriving, strong and connected capital city. As Scotland’s economic powerhouse, we currently contribute almost a third of Scotland’s GDP with just one tenth of the workforce.
This opportunity was underlined by the response from Transform Scotland, the nation’s transport alliance who represent over 70 prominent public organisations, to the report we considered last week. They describe the tram as being ‘absolutely essential to the future of the city’ and that abandoning these plans would have serious consequences, particularly for our climate responsibilities.
Through developing the business case, we’re strengthening our ability to secure funding for an extension, regardless of the source. We’re continuing to receive advice and support from the National Wealth Fund on the potential funding and financing options available to us. Whilst it’s encouraging that the Scottish Government have committed to a feasibility study on the old South Suburban line, this alone will not tackle the challenges we face, and I would urge them to fully back our city and the wider region by giving proper consideration to extending the tram.
Edinburgh stands at a crossroads. We can be bold and create a better, more connected city, or we can turn a blind eye and hope for the best. I for one am not prepared to stand aside, do nothing and shortchange our future generations. They deserve better than that.