One of the more surprising conversations I have had in the last few weeks was campaigners from Stop Climate Chaos Scotland who sought my views on reducing the use of fossil fuel in transport.
I wrongly presumed that extending Edinburgh’s tram network would be one of their key demands, because tackling climate change is usually high on the agenda of tram supporters because the system is electric.
No matter that electricity is often generated from gas-fuelled power stations when wind energy either can’t be transmitted or isn’t being generated, but we’re being led to believe more trams are essential for Edinburgh to meet its net zero targets, however unachievable they are.
But here were climate campaigners unpersuaded by the tram extension proposal, partly because of the threat to the Roseburn Path, but largely because of the eye-watering cost. With interest on the loans needed to fund the two proposed lines, city residents will get no change from £4 billion, and that’s being optimistic.
No matter how many more passengers a tram can carry compared to buses or how much better trams may be for persuading people to leave their cars at home, they are not over £4 billion better when there are so many other urgent priorities.
At a recent meeting about Edinburgh transport, I overheard a senior city council figure boasting how glad he was that a “No” option was not included in the tram consultation which closed this week.
That’s how desperate this has become and it should be halted before any more money is wasted.
