All candidates in the City Centre (Ward 11) by-election have been invited to outline the main strands of their campaigns. John Carson (Independent) kicks off.
I am a Chartered Civil Engineer with 40 years in the construction industry, having been involved in many large transportation projects in Europe.
Edinburgh has embarked on £247 million-worth of budget cuts to services (2009–19), and its borrowings have increased to £1.5 billion. Debt servicing accounts for 10 per cent of the Council’s annual budget. Nevertheless, 16 Lib-Dem councillors seek to commit the City to completion of the tramline to St Andrew Square, at a 'guesstimated' cost of £770 million.
Uncertainty exists over all utility diversions, fibre optic cables, whether the tramline would end at St Andrew Square or York Place, and/or will exceed the £50 million contingency within the £770 million.
Lothian Buses is to be merged with the trams. Annual tram operation losses, provision for infrastructure renewal, decreased Lothian Buses revenue, and the potential impact of £10 million in tram annual borrowing interest payments would have severe implications for the bus company’s future.
I seek to bring proper scrutiny to the implications of committing further money to the tram project; and to protect existing services from further budget cutbacks. If I am elected, the current Lib-Dem/SNP Administration will lose control of the Council and increased scrutiny and transparency should result.
Visit my website at: www.stoptramsvotecarson.co.uk.