The New Town and Broughton Community Council (NTBCC) are fighting a proposed extension of the tramline beyond St Andrew Square to York Place.
They fear a fenced-off corridor for track-switching – occupying up to 3 lanes – would cause traffic chaos in the area. At last night's monthly meeting, their members agreed unanimously to lobby officials and elected representatives to drop the proposal.
With York Place / Queen Street set to become the city centre's principal east–west thoroughfare for motor vehicles, they argue that any obstruction at York Place would cause snarl-ups and encourage drivers to short-cut through more northerly parts of Broughton and the New Town.
Access to the St James Centre (or its successor) and to the Bus Station would also be compromised, they argue, and there would be serious knock-on effects for Picardy Place.
Although City councillors voted on Friday 26 August to terminate the line for passengers at St Andrew Square, there has long been a possibility that the trams themselves might be transferred from track to track for the return route on a short additional spur at York Place.
Off-the-record discussions in the past suggested that this option had been shelved, not least because the curve from St Andrew Street onto York Place would be very difficult for a light-railway to negotiate. Now, though, it seems, all options are again under consideration.
Since the gradient on St Andrew Street makes it unsuitable for track-switching, community councillors believe the only logical spot for this purpose is St Andrew Square itself.
NTBCC Chairman Ian Mowat will now write to the Council's Tram Coordination Manager, Andy Conway, and city councillors to repeat their concerns and invite key figures to discuss the problem at a public meeting in October or November.