Cramond ferry

It is great news that the much missed Cramond ferry is to be reinstated (your report, 29 July).

The £10,000 of Lottery funding and a £1 crossing fee sound sensible but the £300,000 for the lifts and chain device is out of proportion.

Is this a case of health and safety gone mad? Surely anyone able to walk to Queensferry can manage to amble up and down short slipways on either bank and lift a leg to get on board a small boat.

A simple wheel, chain and motor would then complete the job since it is not as if the Queen Mary is expected to dock on the jetty. Much of the pleasure found in the old crossing arose from its simplicity.

Colin Evans

Netherby Road

Edinburgh