Work has just started on the new tram network up in Edinburgh and already it's causing traffic chaos. I hope the people of Edinburgh hang in there, unfortunately I suspect it will get a lot worse before it gets better! It will however be worth the short term inconvenience. When completed, like Nottingham, Edinburgh will have the benefit of a cheap, clean and energy efficient network of public transport available to all. I was living in Nottingham when the trams first opened for business and saw the impact they had on the city. It was in particular quite gratifying in September 2006 to see the operators (Arrow Consortium) report a profit of £1.2 million, confounding the critics and showing that private-public partnerships can in some instances be an excellent way of boosting investment into public services (Nottingham City Council is a major partner in Arrow).
The tram network was of course a recepient of a large amount of EU investment, around £3.5 million, and a great example of the benefits the Union has brought to the region. For more examples, take a look at the website of Catherine Stihler MEP (http://www.cstihlermep.com/) and click on 100 Labour Achievements in Europe. It's an illuminating and positive reflection on what Europe has done for us over the years. I've had the pleasure of meeting Catherine a couple of times now - she's a wonderful lady and an excellent MEP for Scotland, and definitely one to watch. I wish her all the best in her re-election next year.
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