This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-14751711
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Edinburgh trams: Council backs St Andrew Square option | Edinburgh trams: Council backs St Andrew Square option |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Councillors in Edinburgh have voted to run the trams into the city centre ending the route at St Andrew Square. | Councillors in Edinburgh have voted to run the trams into the city centre ending the route at St Andrew Square. |
| At a special meeting they threw out the decision made just a week ago to terminate the line at Haymarket | |
| The U-turn comes after the Scottish government said it would withhold £72m of funding for the £1bn project. | The U-turn comes after the Scottish government said it would withhold £72m of funding for the £1bn project. |
| SNP members backed their Lib Dem coalition partners and Labour members also decided at the last minute to support the St Andrew Square option. | SNP members backed their Lib Dem coalition partners and Labour members also decided at the last minute to support the St Andrew Square option. |
| Last week, Labour and Conservative councillors joined forces to reject plans to borrow an extra £230m to run the line into the city centre. | Last week, Labour and Conservative councillors joined forces to reject plans to borrow an extra £230m to run the line into the city centre. |
| Instead, a Labour amendment to stop the line at Haymarket was passed. The move was described as "bonkers" by the chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce. | Instead, a Labour amendment to stop the line at Haymarket was passed. The move was described as "bonkers" by the chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce. |
| In this latest vote 28 councillors backed the option of running the route down Princes Street and ending it at St Andrew Square, about a mile further east than Haymarket. | |
| Fifteen councillors voted against. | |
| Work is now due to restart on Princes Street on Monday and trams will run at the earliest in 2014. | Work is now due to restart on Princes Street on Monday and trams will run at the earliest in 2014. |
| The report which came before councillors at the special meeting said: "The option to complete the project to St Andrew Square is believed to yield the best prospect of a return on investment relative to the original aims of the project and to deliver best value for the city, the council and the Edinburgh Tram Project." | The report which came before councillors at the special meeting said: "The option to complete the project to St Andrew Square is believed to yield the best prospect of a return on investment relative to the original aims of the project and to deliver best value for the city, the council and the Edinburgh Tram Project." |
| It went on to recommend the option to build from Edinburgh Airport to St Andrew Square/York Place be adopted. | It went on to recommend the option to build from Edinburgh Airport to St Andrew Square/York Place be adopted. |
| The report further recommended agreement to fund the borrowing required "out of current and future resources as set out in the funding proposals and to allow the council flexibility to adopt alternative sources if considered appropriate". | The report further recommended agreement to fund the borrowing required "out of current and future resources as set out in the funding proposals and to allow the council flexibility to adopt alternative sources if considered appropriate". |
| The trams project, which is over budget and late, has been plagued with controversy. | The trams project, which is over budget and late, has been plagued with controversy. |
| The issue has divided Edinburgh's politicians, businesses and the public. | The issue has divided Edinburgh's politicians, businesses and the public. |