Edinburgh faces a choice over its future transport network, with thousands responding to proposals for a tram extension aimed at easing pressure from rapid population growth and driving sustainability, says Stephen Jenkinson.

Over the last three months we’ve seen an incredible level of engagement on our ambitious plans to extend Edinburgh’s multi-award-winning tram network.

Some 11,500 residents and businesses responded, with around 1,500 attending our in person drop-in sessions – testament to the intense interest in, and importance of, our tram system.

Edinburgh is facing significant challenges. Our city is the fastest growing in Scotland, with more than 60,000 new residents expected over the next two decades and over 34,000 by 2028 alone. The Lothians are also the fastest growing region in the country.

Whilst these trends reflect our undoubted success, we can’t underestimate the real pressure this exerts on our communities, and on the city’s transport infrastructure. Managing this growth also means addressing the climate, nature, and housing emergencies – as well as driving forward our city’s economy and tackling poverty. To addresses these big issues, we need to look for ambitious solutions, and, to my mind, the tram extension is fundamental to this. Doing nothing, as some seem to be suggesting, is simply not an option.

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I’m not alone in recognising this. Transform Scotland, the national alliance for regional transport, issued an

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