Committee
Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Bill Committee, 27 Sep 2005
27 Sep 2005 · S2 · Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Bill Committee
Item of business
Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Bill: Consideration Stage
I would like to pick up on an issue. As a result of inflation, prices have increased to the extent that people have questioned whether, in the light of its contribution, the Scottish Executive is committed to raising the amount of money that must be raised for the schemes. It seems to me that, as a result of inflation, the Scottish Executive has provided sufficient money for only one line.A report that TIE passed to us says that if the Parliament agrees to tramline 1 and tramline 2, TIE will determine which sections of each line will be provided. If the committee makes a judgment on tramline 1 and the circular route and people start to cut bits out of that route somewhere along the line, we may have made a false judgment. There could be a major impact on individuals who live along the route as a result of land being sterilised, and whether people want to sell their homes could be affected by effective planning consent being given on the route. I simply make the point that TIE must further justify the costs as we proceed. Perhaps the Scottish Executive should comment on the level of its contribution, and TIE must be open about the possibility of taking sections of the tramline 1 route or the tramline 2 route out of the equation prior to Parliament giving its consent.
In the same item of business
The Convener (Jackie Baillie):
Lab
Good morning everybody and welcome to the 14th meeting this year of the Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Bill Committee. I apologise for the slight delay in startin...
The Convener:
Lab
Do members agree the witness lists and summaries in annex A?Members indicated agreement.
The Convener:
Lab
The next step is for the witnesses to provide their witness statements by 12 October; any rebuttal witness statements must be provided by 26 October.We move ...
The Convener:
Lab
In that case, I see no reason to hear evidence from Ms Grant today on the reserved passenger transport corridor. I propose to call her to speak only to her r...
The Convener:
Lab
On another matter, members will be aware of the recent publicity surrounding the cost of the tram projects and whether line 1 will be a loop. I am sure that ...
Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con):
Con
I would like to pick up on an issue. As a result of inflation, prices have increased to the extent that people have questioned whether, in the light of its c...
Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab):
Lab
We must proceed with the process on the basis of the information and the facts that are before us. The situation is not ideal, but that is the reality. We ha...
Phil Gallie:
Con
May I respond?
The Convener:
Lab
Just a second.
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
It is important for the public to understand that any development leads to disruption of homes, businesses, routes and so on. We take seriously the question ...
The Convener:
Lab
I will draw this matter to a conclusion. I am conscious that we have received confirmation that the capital costs remain the same as indicated in the prelimi...
Phil Gallie:
Con
In response to Helen Eadie, I make the point that we are not working with hypotheses, because we are working with a TIE document that states clearly at parag...
The Convener:
Lab
Let us not have a big debate about this. Equally, I could say that I can find other passages in TIE's progress report that say something different. For examp...
Helen Eadie:
Lab
That is helpful, convener.
The Convener:
Lab
Dearie me; managing this lot is impossible.On the press coverage on whether the loop will indeed be a loop, the bill as proposed would give the promoter the ...
Richard Vanhagen:
Ms Raymond, you mentioned that the Murrayfield Road/Ravelston Dykes option was your least preferred option during link sifting. At the same time, you are say...
Karen Raymond (Environmental Resources Management):
I can comment on the environmental impact of both options. Neither the Murrayfield Road/Ravelston Dykes option nor the Roseburn corridor would have been a pr...
Richard Vanhagen:
Did you consider the Murrayfield Road, Ravelston Dykes and Craigleith Crescent option as part of your sifting? You talk about 25 siftings, but I do not know ...
Karen Raymond:
We considered an alternative that continued along the A8 from Roseburn, went westward up Murrayfield Road, round Ravelston Dykes to the junction with Queensf...
Richard Vanhagen:
I am thinking of the 38 bus route and the fact that that existing on-road route could have been used to link the Western general hospital and the retail park...
Karen Raymond:
I cannot comment on the details of the 38 bus route, although I used to use it in years gone by. I believe that the bus route comes back along Ravelston Dyke...
Richard Vanhagen:
Yes.
Karen Raymond:
No, we did not consider a link that came back along Ravelston Dykes.
Richard Vanhagen:
Obviously, we are told that the tram will affect the half-mile area that surrounds the Roseburn corridor. A tram stop is proposed for Ravelston Dykes, which ...
The Convener:
Lab
Mr Vanhagen, you need to ask a question.
Richard Vanhagen:
I am sorry. Ms Raymond, do you agree that we are talking about one and the same area or district? You have indicated that, for different reasons, one of them...
Karen Raymond:
I am not sure how to answer that question. The on-street options on Murrayfield Road and the on-street solutions to the east of the Roseburn corridor clearly...
Richard Vanhagen:
Did you do no more than note the potential for noise impact along the Roseburn corridor, or did you consider the 136 individuals on that mile of route who ra...
Karen Raymond:
When the options appraisal was conducted, we took into account the potential for noise impact along the Roseburn corridor in comparison with that along the a...
Richard Vanhagen:
So you did not scan the 136 objections to establish the proximity of those individuals to the corridor.