'A place where quality firms want to be'

Work on the project to bring trams to Edinburgh is well under way. Ron Hewitt, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce's chief executive, sets out his views on what trams mean for Edinburgh.

" In a city as beautiful as Edinburgh, our precious architectural heritage must be preserved, but we must also encourage progress.

Economic development improves people's health, wealth and happiness.

But when (as a consequence) our city becomes congested with previously unseen levels of traffic we need new solutions.

Trams work because their modern incarnation is sleek, quiet, attractive, clean and energy efficient.

We can achieve greater numbers of people moved than can ever be achieved with buses. Is it a painful process to introduce the system?

Yes, undoubtedly. That's why the Chamber of Commerce argued long and hard for compensation through rates revaluation and the city's 'top-up' fund to alleviate the hardship for small businesses affected by the work.

'Efficient services'

The real prize will come from modernisation, cleaner streets and increased footfall when the work is over.

Then demand will soar, just as it has done in Dublin and Nice.

Some complain the project is too limited to be of real value. The fact of the matter is the project we see now is only a beginning.

I see future development completing the Granton loop, extending out past the new Royal Infirmary to Queen Margaret University and Musselburgh, out beyond the airport to Newbridge roundabout, taking more cars off Edinburgh's roads.

After that we can look at light rail extending to Livingston, Dalkeith and across the Forth to Rosyth, or even better, Dunfermline.

Fast, frequent, efficient services alleviating the pressure on our road and rail systems which are already at capacity.

Meanwhile the Chamber of Commerce has pioneered the 'Open for Business' campaign to alleviate the difficulties of the construction period, especially for the retail sector.

'Pain of change'

The knock-on gain is an enhancement of our reputation as one of the most desirable places to live and work in Britain, matching up to our continental competitors as a city that can be forward thinking whilst preserving its fantastic heritage.

A place where quality businesses want to be because quality staff want to be here, with the best health, education, arts, entertainment and shopping experiences that we can have to enhance people's working lives.

Dublin suffered just the same resistance to the pain of change. Now they are on phase three of extending the system which has transformed a city strangling slowly to death through gridlock.

In the process, a key achievement has been the alleviation of poverty through the revitalisation of some of the city's most impoverished areas.

It is vital we bring Edinburgh's business and residents with us through this development, which will truly revolutionise the environment of our capital, how we travel and how we can respect our heritage, whilst helping build our economy. Isn't that worth the investment? "