Dear All
Edinburgh is putting in a tram system; it is Scotland’s biggest infrastructure project which was forced through despite objections.
It is a Labour project and as such it is in trouble, no surprise there then.
So, now the bad news, no one knows what the final bill will be, it is Holyrood Parliament all over again.
The Holyrood fiasco went from £40 million to £440 million.
Now councillors in Edinburgh say they need to set aside at least an extra £55 million to cover spiralling costs for the controversial scheme.
Somehow I don’t think £55 million extra will be enough, a damning report on the scheme highlights that officials couldn’t guarantee they would not need to ask for more cash before the end of this white elephant to ensure final delivery.
As well as the money aspect there is an ongoing and long dispute with the main contractor, German company Bilfinger Berger.
No one has nailed that down.
So, it looks like the scheme will be cut down with whole stretches being abandoned or as hinted done in an “incremental” development.
The big idea of Labour has fallen in farce, muddle and confusion.
Labour transport spokesman Charlie Gordon piped up last night that the two sides should get together to ensure at least some of the line is built.
Having been in Edinburgh, there it is well served by a very good bus service, it was a mistake to do this project without proper planning and now it is coming home to roost.
In the West the Labour Party is pushing another white elephant, this time called GARL, why does Labour keep promoting such stupidity?
The answer is simple to be seen to be doing something, big ideas without the intellectual thought to solve the whole puzzle.
Rather like a Council worker hanging a door squint which can’t shut, who then says someone will be along to fix it.
The Edinburgh tram project is a waste of money and its the Labour Party's fault.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Edinburgh is putting in a tram system; it is Scotland’s biggest infrastructure project which was forced through despite objections.
It is a Labour project and as such it is in trouble, no surprise there then.
So, now the bad news, no one knows what the final bill will be, it is Holyrood Parliament all over again.
The Holyrood fiasco went from £40 million to £440 million.
Now councillors in Edinburgh say they need to set aside at least an extra £55 million to cover spiralling costs for the controversial scheme.
Somehow I don’t think £55 million extra will be enough, a damning report on the scheme highlights that officials couldn’t guarantee they would not need to ask for more cash before the end of this white elephant to ensure final delivery.
As well as the money aspect there is an ongoing and long dispute with the main contractor, German company Bilfinger Berger.
No one has nailed that down.
So, it looks like the scheme will be cut down with whole stretches being abandoned or as hinted done in an “incremental” development.
The big idea of Labour has fallen in farce, muddle and confusion.
Labour transport spokesman Charlie Gordon piped up last night that the two sides should get together to ensure at least some of the line is built.
Having been in Edinburgh, there it is well served by a very good bus service, it was a mistake to do this project without proper planning and now it is coming home to roost.
In the West the Labour Party is pushing another white elephant, this time called GARL, why does Labour keep promoting such stupidity?
The answer is simple to be seen to be doing something, big ideas without the intellectual thought to solve the whole puzzle.
Rather like a Council worker hanging a door squint which can’t shut, who then says someone will be along to fix it.
The Edinburgh tram project is a waste of money and its the Labour Party's fault.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
Scotland cannae even build a tram line - how pathetic is that?
ReplyDeleteDear Scunnert
ReplyDeleteIt is what I expect from the Labour Party, ideas without substance.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University