Letters: MSPs will regret being so hasty on voting for trams

Published on Thursday 26 February 2009 09:14

NIGEL GRIFFITHS makes a good case for scrapping the whole trams project (Evening News, February 24). His arguments are very sound.

The one slight flaw is that he manages to attach some measure of blame to all the parties other than his own. This is unfair since it was the previous Labour council administration who hatched the plot to begin with.

On the other hand, Chamber of Commerce chief Graham Birse makes the case that, having signed a contract, the contractors are now coming along and, entirely unfairly, are seeking to break their word. He overlooks the small fact that TIE have also frequently broken their word so allowing the contractors to make fresh demands to meet the changed situation, ie changed on several occasions, by TIE.

In this way the ill-fated project bears close resemblance to the Parliament building and, if continuing, will also bear all the ongoing troubles which its bad planning has set up.

So putting these two articles together, there is little doubt that Nigel Griffiths is the more convincing, apart from his slight deviation in the pinning of blame.

Indeed, if blame is to be handed around, what about all the MSPs, other than SNP, who outvoted the government to push through the Bill which allowed the tram scheme to go ahead? I'll bet that many of these now wish they had not been so hasty.

JR Hall, Colinton Grove, Edinburgh

Take a leaf out of Victorians' books

TOO many cooks are spoiling the tramway's broth. With far less technology, our Victorian forefathers built hundreds of miles of railway line in frequently inhospitable country, in less time that it has so far taken to produce 11 miles of tramway through the streets of Edinburgh!

Of course, their work forces had the advantage of being employed by the companies that planned to operate the lines. These in turn were ever-eager to see an early return on their investments.

Surely the time has come for TIE to start employing some modern-day navvies, and end the ridiculous practice of awarding tenders to so many different contractors?

C Paul Harvey, Wardlaw Street, Edinburgh

Clearing confusion over project vote

I REFER to my letter which appeared in the Evening News of February 25. Due to a clerical error, reference was made to the SNP Group on Edinburgh City Council recording a vote against the trams project. The letter referred to a roll call vote recorded at the council meeting of December 21 (when I was the only councillor who voted against) but should have referred to the meeting of June 28 when all 12 SNP councillors recorded their vote against, the only political group on the council to do so. Sorry for the confusion and trust this clears the matter up.

Councillor Steve Cardownie, Leader, SNP Group

City should erect a Queen Mum statue

AS one with a republican leaning, the unveiling of the statue of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen's mother, in London perplexes me.

She undoubtedly served our nation during the great conflict of the Second World War. She always carried herself with dignity and earned our respect. She embodied decency and fine example.

I feel a warm remembrance of this extraordinary woman, although she and I were of different generations. I welcome her being honoured in London.

She should be remembered in Scotland's capital too. There is a spot on the North Bridge awaiting the commission.

I also feel a similar warmth to our Queen, whose devotion to her role has also been a fine example to us all. So, why do I have such little regard and hope for the future? Why does the monarchy seem so irrelevant to my life? In our modern world, how can we justify accession through birth, rather than merit?

Jim Taylor, The Murrays Brae, Edinburgh

Reporter's role is that of gatekeeper

IT should be noted that Alan McEwen's article Parents face action over under-sixes skiving off (News, February 21) requires clarification with regard to the role of Reporters to Children's Panels.

Rather than it being the Reporter's decision, it is for the Children's Panel itself (made up of lay-members of the community) to decide if compulsory measures of care are required or not; and to make conditions that are in the best interests of the child.

The role of the Reporter is more of a gatekeeper who assesses referrals and decides if a child "may" require such measures of care; or alternatively takes no further action, which inevitably means some sort of voluntary arrangement by family, child and others.

Bob Bertram, Main Street, Pathhead, Midlothian

Hear this solution loud and clear

I WRITE with much concern over the 84,000 spent on City Chambers microphones (News, February 20).

That amount would provide the entire council and others voice production lessons, with lots and lots of change back. Speech therapy is still here in Edinburgh – try it at your own expense, of course.

Alister W Mackintosh, Temple Park Crescent, Edinburgh