Will the voices of trams' supporters be drowned out by the racket they make?

Published on Wednesday 28 January 2009 20:55

As Alan Alstead rightly points out in his open letter on the tram system which continues to threaten our capital city (Debate & Opinion, 27 January), continuance of this scheme is emphatically not democracy in action. Hardly anyone wants it to happen.

One important point missed by Mr Alstead concerns noise. In authorising these works, the Scottish Parliament allowed the future operators to run the trams at noise levels exceeding the recommendations of the World Health Organisation and well above the levels to which any new development can be exposed.

What have our elected councillors to say about this?

(MRS) ALISON M M BRUCE

Wester Coates Terrace

Edinburgh

Alan Alstead's article championing buses and trolley buses is, to say the least, misleading.

I cannot comment on Beijing, but of the other cities he lists, I know Boston, Philadelphia, Athens and San Francisco have tramway systems in addition to buses and trolley buses. Boston, Philadelphia, Athens and San Francisco also have underground railways. Vancouver has its "Skytrain" system (a bit like the DLR in London) in addition to buses and trolley buses. I am surprised that Mr Alstead didn't mention this.

Perhaps buses and trolley buses are not the complete answer to the transport needs of a city after all.

ALASTAIR ANDERSON

Fergus Gardens

Hamilton

Alan Alstead's open letter must not go unheeded. I and, I am sure, other residents are looking forward to a reply from Tom Aitchison, the capital's chief executive.

The current financial climate gives Mr Aitchison a golden opportunity to come out smelling of roses.

MARCUS FORBES

Paisley Crescent

Edinburgh

Alan Alstead has summed up exactly what any sensible resident of Edinburgh feels. We know the damage the council is doing to Edinburgh. However, what must tourists think – "Edinburgh is shut for business and tourism and we will go elsewhere"?

How can we stop this project and save Edinburgh?

WILLIAM CLARK

St John's Road

Edinburgh

Allan Alstead comments that the public are not being made aware of the funding situation. Is there a double-whammy on likely costs?

I bet those in charge of the project have not hedged their currency bets to secure a fixed cost of purchase, and have omitted to buy forward the euros required to purchase the rolling stock from the German manufacturers.

TONY CORMACK

Golf Course Road

Bonnyrigg, Midlothian

I seem to recall precisely the same outpouring of woe and despair from inhabitants in Croydon before trams reopened there. Sheffield during tram construction had even worse.

A colleague in Croydon e-mails me: "The moment the trams start, you'll find that protests will instantly disappear and everyone will be delighted."

In the unlikely event that Edinburgh does turn its back on becoming a European city with a 21st-century European mode of transport, please can we in Aberdeen have the pieces to rebuild here? If there was ever a tram referendum in the Granite City, they would be overwhelmingly voted back in.

GORDON CASELY

Hill Street

Aberdeen