Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Bill Committee report satisfied with balance of Bill

CTRAM2 | 002/2005 | 7 December 2005

The Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Bill Committee has concluded that it is satisfied that an appropriate balance has been struck between the rights of those who will be adversely affected by the Bill and the tram’s likely benefit to the wider community.

The Committee has completed its detailed consideration of the Bill, which is being promoted by the City of Edinburgh Council, and has reported on each outstanding objection to it.

The Committee is generally content that the wider public benefits of the tram project outweigh any local environmental impacts that may arise and that the promoter of the Bill is attempting to minimise the land take necessary to construct and operate the tram.

The Committee is also satisfied that there will be sufficient funding available for people who are likely to be compensated under the Bill.

These impacts were at the heart of many of the objections to the Bill that were scrutinised by the Committee.

While the Committee generally welcomes the promoter’s approach to mitigating the impact of the tram, the Committee will amend the Bill to ensure that promised mitigation measures are delivered.

In upholding part of an objection from the West Edinburgh Residents Trams Action Group, the Committee has strengthened consultation rights for certain residents likely to be particularly adversely affected by the construction of the tram line.

The Committee has also stated that it agrees with objections from CGM (Edinburgh) Ltd, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and Haymarket Yards Ltd, about the need for an alternative tram route in the Haymarket Yards area of Edinburgh. Consequently, the Bill will be amended to ensure that a more favourable alignment is built.

Committee Convener Bill Aitken said:

“Many of the objections relate to the compulsory acquisition of land and ‘rights in land’ and the adverse local environmental impacts that objectors consider they will suffer as an inevitable consequence of the scheme as set out in the Bill.

“However, the Committee is satisfied that the promoter has taken appropriate steps to minimise ‘land take’ wherever possible; that objectors will be appropriately compensated for any land compulsorily acquired; and that, after mitigation, impacts will be reduced to an acceptable degree.”

Background Note

The principal objective of the Edinburgh Tram (Line Two) Bill is to authorise the construction and operation of a tram line in Edinburgh. The line will start at St Andrew Square and travel west along Princes Street, past Haymarket Station to South Gyle, north to Gogar Roundabout, and then north-west to the airport, with a shuttle service from Ingliston Park and Ride to Newbridge.

The overall purpose of Consideration Stage is to consider the detail of the Bill and all the objections that were made to it, and to deal with any amendments lodged. Consideration Stage is divided into two phases.

The first phase involves the Committee considering the detail of the Bill and all the outstanding objections. Following its consideration of all the written and oral evidence, the Committee prepares a report giving its decisions on each objection considered, which is published today.

The second phase will involve the Committee meeting to consider and dispose of any amendments. Only members of the Committee may lodge amendments to the Bill and participate in the meeting. This will take place on Wednesday 21 December.

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