(The following is the text of Community Councils Together on Trams’ repose to the second consultation about the proposed extension of Edinburgh Trams to Newhaven. It was submitted in November 2018.)

Community Councils Together on Trams: response to tram extension consultation 2

Introduction

1. Community Councils Together on Trams (CCTT), the coalition of the four Community Councils along the proposed route extension, was formed in June 2018 to respond to the proposed tram extension from York Place to Newhaven.
2. This was accompanied by the publication of CCTT’s Joint Statement which sets out CCTT’s support in principle for the tram extension, but also a number of serious concerns around the on-street design, the impact on the local economy along the proposed tram corridor, the absence of an up-to-date environmental case, and the very tight time frame – from June to December 2018 (when the final decision to go ahead was due be made by CEC) – to address these concerns.
3. There exists – currently – a most successful eco-system along the proposed tram extension and its hinterland, where a wide variety of businesses and a reasonable public transport system sustain the most densely populated area in Scotland and where the majority of households don’t use a car. This must not be damaged beyond repair during construction or reduced to a sterile transport corridor with an unattractive – or even more polluted – pedestrian environment post construction
4. Since June, CCTT members have participated in all public events, exhibitions and a number of workshops following the publication of the first designs for the tram extension. In addition, CCTT has held monthly meeting with the Tram Team, working through CCTT’s key concerns.
5. In the course of these meetings with the Tram Team, CCTT has realised that the Tram Team’s scope is too narrow and does not include many of the ‘supplementary’ projects that CCTT see as essential to helping the existing successful ‘eco-system’ along the route survive – and that are crucial to the successful operation of the tram post-construction. CCTT is aware of a number of good initiatives that are currently being pursued by CEC, but remains concerned that the envisaged timelines – including the horizons of 2030 and 2050 – do not meet the needs of the area post construction (2022). Sufficient progress of these projects (in terms of plans, budgets, timelines) prior to the final decision would be a key factor for CCTT’s support continuing in the run up to the final decision the period of early contractor involvement, and, crucially, during construction.

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