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The next agenda item relates to a site visit. We are required to consider whether we wish to make a familiarisation visit along the proposed route for line 2. We discussed that earlier, and I think that there is a general view that a visit of that type would be useful. If members are agreeable to that, it would be appropriate to identify a suitable date during our discussions on the work programme, which will be dealt with under item 8. It would clearly be beneficial to invite the promoter of the bill to organise and attend the visit, so that the promoter can provide further information on any questions that members may have during the visit, as well as highlight areas of specific interest or concern that might arise. I must stress firmly that the promoter's involvement would be limited to that role; I trust that that will be of some reassurance to objectors.
I am happy about that, but I presume that as we progress through the bill there will be other opportunities to make site visits. If objectors want us to consider a specific area that relates to their objections, is it possible that we could have other site visits in future?
It is an evolving process and we do not know what will crop up in evidence. I certainly would not preclude a visit to a specific locus if a problem were highlighted. We would obviously wish to have our site visit in advance of oral evidence being taken, because we really need to know the location so that we have seen for ourselves the situation that appertains before evidence is given about specific difficulties.
I understand that the west Edinburgh bus system is being constructed at the moment and that it is the precursor to much of the tram route. It would therefore be useful to ensure that that work is covered on our site visit, because that is an important part of our consideration of the general principles of the bill.
It would clearly be of advantage to do that; we shall arrange to do so later.
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Fact-finding Visit