Don't build a monument to the past

Published on Thursday 21 February 2008 09:30

THE ready acceptance by the government of Transport Scotland's plan for a new bridge over the Forth seems overhasty. The bridge as described might have been more acceptable had space been allowed for a tramline. Let us, however, not waste any space on a guided busway instead, which has only a third the capacity of a tram.

The bridge as projected cannot match the tunnel proposed by John Carson, of pro-tunnel group ForthTag, which would be capable of carrying heavy rail as well. Also since the tunnel can be prefabricated locally it is likely to make use of local facilities. It would cause less disruption, and in the end cost less than TS's scheme.

Supporters of the bridge are to be found north of the Forth, while South Queensferry will face most of the disruption. One must sympathise with Bruce Whitehead (Queensferry Against the Bridge, Letters, February 18) who asks whether we should pay 4.22 billion for this new bridge when it is still possible to repair the old one at much less cost.

Whether the removal of tolls make sense in this context is to be doubted. Nor will it encourage people to take public transport, if that really is Mr Swinney's intention.

In any case, the present scheme with all its costs and upheavals is going to take eight years to complete. Will this still be what we want, or will it be quite obsolete, a monument to past thinking?

David G Guild, Grange Road, Edinburgh

It's gone all quiet at Edinburgh Zoo

HOW typically arrogant of the zoo that they will not answer Will Travers of the Born Free Foundation (Letters, February 16).

It is a very reasonable request into why it is possible for the Barbary macaque monkey to escape from a secure area or indeed why the animal was killed. The zoo is a body which believes it is not responsible to anyone.

The remarks on the latest leaflet "If you can't see the animals, look carefully they are there" or further up the hill, "If you can't see any around come back again", are worthy of a timeshare salesman or is the zoo sponsored by "Specsavers".

The latest fiasco to reach my ears, the zoo has purchased a new bus.

Guess what! Yes, it is too wide for the many corners on the road. They are being knocked down to accommodate it.

Does this organisation know where it is going? And what reply from the zoo? Just a roaring silence!

C J Kennedy, Broomhall Loan, Edinburgh

Let's see positive approach for Porty

DIANA CAIRNS can be reassured that her claim for compensation for the loss of so-called common good land could be met by the savings generated for the city's council tax payers by a new high school.

Public money is currently being wasted on maintaining a building that's unfit for purpose, to ensure it can meet the most basic of health and safety standards.

This attitude – and its focus on placing financial and legal hurdles in the way of a new school – forms a stark contrast to the positive vision for a true community school expressed by the children and teachers of PHS in their DVD.

Not once do any of them call for compensation for the adverse conditions in which they have to work and study. They discuss their vision for a school on the park. One where thousands upon thousands of children and all members of the community will benefit from the facilities a new school can provide.

We were expecting our councillors to vote today to begin the process of building the new school on the park. The high school children have set out an exciting future for Portobello. Let's hope their positive approach is listened to and acted on by our local representatives.

Jackie Brock, Marlborough Street, Portobello

Difficult decisions stump the council

I'M astounded at the latest twist that is the current education department saga (News, February 19).

The current coalition running Edinburgh boldly states that it "would be totally unrealistic to allow sufficient time for fair and open consultation of the proposals before budget day on Thursday".

That's rubbish – the structural review in question was agreed back in October 2007! Just what has been happening for the last four months? I'll tell you what – officers attempting to get a difficult decision out of a coalition that just can't make them.

Alan J Boston, Rosemount Buildings, Edinburgh

Education funding snub is a fiasco

I REALLY could not believe it when I read about yet another funding snub for education in Edinburgh.

First of all the council tries to close 22 schools; then it cuts school-based budgets in the middle of the financial year; then it says there's no more additional money for any new buildings; and now they are shelving 7 million of existing commitments to refurbish school buildings.

What a total fiasco.

Jenny Wales, Alva Street, Edinburgh

What a relief he's not a Glaswegian

I DO not normally intervene in inter-city rivalry but Edinburgh has now gained an enormous advantage over Glasgow.

While Edinburgh is launching a new, environmentally friendly, 21st century tram network, added to an excellent bus network, Glasgow, with the new M74, is wedded to a 1960s road-orientated timewarp.

Glasgow will be a congested, noisy, polluted hellhole, with a shambolic bus network, Edinburgh will remain a civilised city.

As energy crises loom and climate chaos will change our transport priorities, Glasgow will find itself in an economic cul-de-sac, while Edinburgh forges ahead.

I am glad I am not a Weegie.

Douglas G Smart, Bellfield Avenue, Musselburgh