Colin Smith – an independent consultant surveyor attached to the Council in order to liaise with contractors and push through Edinburgh's tramworks – addressed the New Town and Broughton Community Council last night.
At a keenly attended meeting, he began by saying that progress had improved enormously since the dark days of January 2011. This had been achieved despite the constraints of a contract whose like he had not seen before in 30 years' professional experience.
Mr Smith conceded that Council communication with the public – not least over how the latest rounds of East End closures were announced and explained – left much to be desired. Effective communication is, he averred, a new priority.
At this point, somewhat red-faced, he glanced to his right at Councillor Hinds, the city's Transport Convener. She – it emerged – is not best pleased and has been knocking heads together lately.
'Anyone who knows me will tell you I am not a morning person,' she growled. 'We are having another 8am meeting tomorrow.'
The labyrinthine explanations (delivered confusingly without maps or visual aids of any sort), the consequent misunderstandings, re-explications and counter-suggestions which marked last night's event would easily fill ten pages and leave readers even more frustrated than they are already.
Thankfully, Councillor Hinds has promised an authoritative distillation of the facts, timetable and key contacts within days. Rather than add further fog to the haar, we will wait for this document's appearance and then republish it in full. At least that way, we will all have a common basis for discussion.
Below, however are a few salient points which emerged from the meeting.
- The initial extent and pace of work are dictated by CEC's requirement to have cleared all underground utilities problems before the tramworks proper begin. In contractual terms, York Place must be 'utilities-free' by October 2012.
- Under current diversion proposals, East-West journey times are expected to be only 2–3 minutes longer than before. However, there will be substantially more traffic along formerly residential streets (e.g. an extra 1,300 vehicles between 7–9am). Speed restrictions and extra signage will be put in place.
- The current diversion and parking proposals are not set in stone. Officials are listening to the public's doubts and suggestions, and will revise plans if appropriate.
- Officials will take on board local concerns about the structural integrity of Abercromby Place ('a weak, unsupported viaduct') and North St Andrew Street ('it's got a railway tunnel underneath it') given increased traffic loads and extra HGVs.
- Officials will look again at ways to mitigate traffic flow through residential areas, e.g. imposing weight restrictions, or by temporarily reopening Princes Street to general traffic at certain hours.
- Officials will experiment with 'or remodel' their proposals in the light of last night's discussion, and report back in 3 weeks' time (30 July).
- Officials will address some public complaints that works are being pushed through without sufficient public notice and are therefore illegal.
- Up-to-date information will in future be posted to barriers and fencing around work sites.
This was by no means a model meeting, and officials did not emerge from it as shining beacons of clarity. However, they appear to recognise their failings and be willing to improve pronto. It is limited progress of sorts.
[Image: Wikimedia Commons.]