The tram extension will stay on track, whatever Tories say – Steve Cardownie

The Conservatives’ financial spokesman in The City Chambers, Councillor Graham Hutchison, believes that the tram extension must be at risk because of the financial position of Lothian Buses and it’s ability to contribute it’s £20million dividend to the construction budget. As the Tories have opposed this extension from the outset (despite being “gung ho” for the current line) I can only assume that it is wishful thinking on his part.

This, after all, is the council administration’s flagship policy and it will not be easily deflected from it’s goal of completing the line from York Place to Newhaven.

Although the current health crisis has thrown a spanner in the works it will take more than that to signal the demise of the project.

The council leadership has already gone on record to state that if the dividend is not forthcoming, whilst it may be a blow, it will not be a body blow and the work to the extension will proceed regardless. The funding of £207 million for the project is to be met by loans which are due to be paid back from future fare income from the new line and at the moment that scenario is still confidently predicted by council officials.

The economic climate would have to take an even greater turn for the worse for the council administration to abandon its desire to get the line down to Newhaven but for the moment it will be full steam ahead.