Smith welcomes Council decision on Trams

25/10/07

Margaret Smith MSP has welcomed the City of Edinburgh Council’s decision today to give the green light to the city’s trams project. The Final Business Case for the development was published last week and approved by all Councillors except the SNP group this afternoon. Phase One of the project, a route from Edinburgh Airport to the Ocean Terminal is due to be completed by 2011, at a cost of around £498 million.

Commenting, Ms Smith said: “I am delighted that the Council has now given the project the green light to continue, and that the estimated cost is a lot less than was originally thought. With so much money and work having already gone in to the preparations for the trams it would have been a real waste if the project was not followed through. A modern, efficient and environmentally friendly transport system such as this is perfect for a city like Edinburgh and ensures that Scotland is not left behind the rest of Europe in terms of public transport in its capital city.”