In 2002 the cost of the return of the Waverley rail line to Tweedbank was £195million – currently, this stands at £295million, an increase of £100million in six years.
The railway is not due to be completed until 2013 and I shudder to think what the cost will be then. At 30 miles between Edinburgh Waverley and Tweedbank, the line costs a staggering £9,833,333 per mile; at 35 miles, £8,400,000 per mile.
How much lo
nger are our MSPs going to allow costs to spiral upwards before they blow the whole idea of the railway's return out of the water?
Scottish Borders Council, the main sponsor of the line's return, levies £1,700 for every house which receives planning consent, which is causing much discontent among house builders. SBC's £8.7million share of the cost of the railway's return will come from housing developers – but with the current housing slump, the council's contribution is bound to suffer.
Council leader David Parker says the £8.7million will be paid over a 30-year period – first payment in 2013.
There are SBC elections in 2011/12 – I wonder how many councillors who have dreamt up the idea of the return of the railway will survive?
The current administration at Newtown St Boswells has said there will be no increase in Council Tax as a result of the line's return. However, with the housing slump, will SBC still be able to find the £8.7million without an increase in Council Tax?
JAMIE BATTEN
Chay Blyth Place
Hawick
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