‘The bus lanes have to work in the first place’

But the furore over Edinburgh’s bus lane cameras may end up having a positive legacy for motorists across the city.

We tell today how a review into the cameras has – as we called for at the time – led to a raft of recommendations for a shake-up of the lanes across the city. A consultation is now set to be carried out into the hours of operation of some lanes and even whether others should be scrapped altogether.

Cameras will still be deployed to catch the cheats but there will be clear rules about what you can and cannot do.

This is a positive step. The cameras were never a bad idea and the Evening News has always said it supported the policy, provided it was enforced in a fair and measured manner.

But the bus lanes have to work in the first place. They have to be proven to speed up bus journey times rather than just frustrating the ordinary motorist or acting as another cash cow for the council. We await the results of the consultation with interest.

A force for good

Chief Constable David Strang is right to hail today’s figures which show a near ten per cent drop in crime across the Lothians, and the force should be congratulated on its efforts.

He points to the focus on community policing as a major factor in the drop, an assertion which will no doubt only add weight to the calls for a return to the traditional “bobbies on the beat”.

A series of high-profile operations have grabbed the headlines, but just as important has been listening to and acting on what might be  the relatively minor concerns of communities. If people have confidence that police will address things like antisocial behaviour – and if officers are visible in communities – then a reduction in crime will naturally  follow.

It is reassuring to hear Mr Strang today maintain that the good work of the past two years will continue after Lothian and Borders is  integrated into the new single police force.

Were such worthy initiatives to be dropped, that would truly be a crime.