ON TRACK FOR A MAMMOTH OVERSPEND.

In an earlier posting CROSSED TRAM LINES 12/7, the author spoke of the disgraceful waste of money, regarding the proposed second phase of the Nottingham city tram system. Those electors interested in how New Labour throws your money around, be prepared to put your hands in your pockets, as this gormless outfit has promised £530 million of taxpayer GB's money to assist with the funding. This is before the increases mount. One can suppose that this is chicken feed when added to debts totalling hundreds of billions.



The week started with a brief committee of enquiry, raising the point of the opposition from Nottingham industry, which is obliged to charge it's employees to park within their place of work, in an endeavour to defray the cost of running this white elephant. This point was soon overcome, having been included as window dressing only. As we know, trams run on tracks, which limits their route to a finite degree, and at best can only serve those nearest to it's stopping points. The scheme, however, involves all work parking within the city limits. It doesn't take into account anyone working nights, when no trams will be running.



One of the largest employers on the perimeter of the city is Boots. Their main car park falls within the city boundary. They have the opportunity to build a new parking area outside or, alternatively, pick up their ball and put roots down elsewhere, since they are no longer a British company. Multiply this a few times, and we can begin to imagine what it could do to the the local economy.



Add to this the fact that many of the tram users avoid paying their dues; not to mention that the public is placing itself into the hands of the unions.







A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.