County council 'standing in way of new tram'
THE city council had said it will have the cash to 'go it alone' on the extension of Nottingham's tram system.
But the authority is pleading with Notts County Council not to obstruct the project, which would see new tram lines connecting the city to Clifton and Chilwell.
The city council has said its calculations show it is affordable for it to proceed without the county.
It plans to absorb the contribution – up to £28m – that Notts County Council had pledged to pay, and reschedule repayments over a longer period.
This combined with changes in interest rates and contingency funds should be enough to see the city through.
The problem arose after the Conservatives took political control of the county council at the local elections earlier this month.
The Conservatives say they will deliver an election pledge to withhold money for the new tram lines.
Coun Jane Urquhart, portfolio holder for transport at the city council. said: "NET Phase Two is too crucial to the future prosperity of Nottingham and the region to even contemplate pulling the plug on it.
"My colleagues and I have been approached by businesses pleading with us to ensure that we continue with the project. I want to be able to give them the reassurance that we will go ahead with our plans."
However, the city council is concerned that the county council's lack of support for the tram will extend to standing in the way of progress.
The Post understands that existing legal agreements between the two councils mean the county cannot stop the scheme . However, the city fears it could be unhelpful and potentially delay the project.
Coun Urquhart said: "Nottingham City Council recognises the value of a modern, efficient and clean public transport system. Sadly this view is not shared by the Conservative Group at the county council, despite all the factors being fully and thoroughly examined at the public inquiry. However, all we ask of them is that they do not impede our progress.
"Delay is unhelpful and everyone needs to know what their intent is in the next few days."
A key decision on the tram is due to be taken by Government next month, which would allow the city council to put work out to tender.
The city insists that the Department for Transport will want to hear a commitment from the county council that while unsupportive of the project, it would not inhibit the scheme.
The Conservative leadership at Notts County Council has been reluctant to clarify its position.
A statement detailing its stance was due to be issued on Friday, but it was not forthcoming. Yesterday the county council did not respond to a city appeal not to impede progress on the tram.
The city says it is yet to receive a letter from the county with formal notification that it intends to withdraw from the contract.
charles.walker@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk
22 Comments
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by Mr B J Mann, Nottingham
Thursday, June 25 2009, 5:33PM
“Errrrmmmmmmmmm, stuff like:
Rubbish being cleared off the streets.
Bodies being buried.
And the "longest uninterrupted boom since records began" being kickstarted, by the Left's demon Thatcher, and started under Major.
Not bad considering they inherited a bankrupt basket case and managed to turn it round.
.
If you don't want a receiver or administrator to have to sell off your assets:
Don't put a bunch of incompetent lawyers, failed social workers and activist teachers and lecturers in charge of your business.
And cheer them on has they bleed it dry to fund your favourite charities.
And then complain that whoever had to sort out the mess had to make hard decisions!
.”
by Bruce, Beeston
Thursday, June 25 2009, 3:38PM
“Let's have a list then Daz - stuff that actually happened btw.”
by Daz, Nottingham
Thursday, June 25 2009, 2:57PM
“"Ask yourself Daz, did we see any improvements in services from all the revenue raised? "
Bruce, Beeston
YES”
by Bruce, Beeston
Thursday, June 25 2009, 2:10PM
“Phil, don't forget that Mrs Thatcher sold off most of our gas reserves too. It's easy to see why the likes of Daz have been hoodwinked by the Tories - they sold off so many things to make the balance sheet look good. Now we own hardly anything and are reliant on imports.
Ask yourself Daz, did we see any improvements in services from all the revenue raised?”
by Phil, Gamston
Thursday, June 25 2009, 1:34PM
“Daz I was actually refering to the Russian Gas pipeline that we rely on for our energy needs. We wouldn't need it so uch if still produced our own coal
As regards Greenhouse gases the technology now exists to make Coal fired power stations far cleaner, sadly the mines no longer exist to supply them because of short sight tory policy of the 80s. As a result our energy bills remain high due in no small part to our reliance on foreign gas with the irony being we sit on millions of tonnes of our own coal which we now can't exploit”
by Daz, Nottingham
Thursday, June 25 2009, 1:23PM
“George Painter, Clifton
Did your pet inspector say that there were WMD's in iraq as well?”
by George Painter, Clifton
Thursday, June 25 2009, 1:15PM
“Inspector's report Daz dear boy.”
by Daz, Nottingham
Thursday, June 25 2009, 12:39PM
“Phil, Gamston
So we have vast coal reserves underground!
I thought we were against burning coal because of the so called "greenhouse effect"
If we are buying expensive russian coal how much will our reserves be worth when the russians have exhausted theirs?
When the price of coal goes through the roff will it not then be economical to mine it?”
by Phil, Gamston
Thursday, June 25 2009, 12:10PM
“Daz is at again I see, closing the pits was very short sighted given our impending energy crisis. Do you know how much it costs to import coal daz ? We literally sit on millions of tonnes of Coal, yet have to rely on the ruskies not turning off a pipeline to keep warm in winter”
by The Equaliser, NOTTINGRAD
Thursday, June 25 2009, 11:55AM
“Georgy Porgy
I think we should not build the Tram but take a large chunk of working people's wages and give it to the unemployed. Strip savings and do the same.
Throw away lots of cash on stupid projects that make the city look nice . . .
Oh that's just what is happening!”