Letter: New disgrace

IN 1817 calls were made for the construction of a monument in Edinburgh to commemorate the fallen in the Napoleonic War. In 1822, a proposal was put forward to erect a facsimile of the Parthenon on Calton Hill. Originally the building was planned to have extensive catacombs supporting the main structure.

The cost was to be 42,000; 10,000 from parliament and the remainder from a public appeal. Construction began in 1826. The project ended in 1829 with only 16,000 being raised. This project was halted before 50 per cent of the budget was spent, created a dozen beautiful Doric columns and was called Edinburgh's Disgrace.

In the 1990s it was proposed that a tram system be reintroduced in Edinburgh. A plan to build a line along Princes Street and Leith Walk to Newhaven was unveiled in 1999.

Originally the line was to run from Leith to Edinburgh Airport and the cost was to be 498 million; 375m from the Scottish Government and 45m from the City of Edinburgh Council. This proposal was supported by the Scottish Parliament and city council. Construction began in 2007. The project ended (?) in 2011 with only 500m wasted.

This project, if stopped now, could well exceed the original budget and will have ruined many businesses and individuals' lives. What does Edinburgh have to show for our money and what should it be called?

Howard Lewis

Hailes Avenue

Edinburgh

THE tram project looks soon to resume its shoogly journey along Princes Street. I would like to be positive and invite the traders whose premises are likely to be fronted by fencing to adopt it as a floral advertisement.

As a focal point, the National Gallery could sponsor a very much larger Jeff Koons type of topiary figure of a suitable personage. At the end of the season an award could be given to the shopkeeper whose decorated fence was judged the best.

To add to the carnival atmosphere, the fences could be illuminated at night and two or three trams kitted out as bistros, farmers' markets or arts venues, put on the rails and pushed to and fro. Princes Street, as the work progresses or stalls, would be a barometer of achievement.

Who knows, in a few years, a new festival, of upheaval, could be born and the people would flock to pay money to see it.

Bill Veitch

Observatory Road

Edinburgh

NO doubt there will be many SNP MSPs and councillors rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of the Edinburgh tram project being cancelled due to lack of additional funding. After all, they have spent the past five years trying to achieve that very outcome. However, I suspect this may prove to be a Pyrrhic victory for several reasons.

First of all it will make Scotland the laughing stock of the world if it fails to deliver a tram network, something our French neighbours have achieved in at least ten cities in the past decade.

More seriously, it sees the demise of the only green transport project on the Scottish Government's agenda.

Despite the way the tram has been trivialised as only a replacement for the 22 bus, the route encompasses several major business and residential areas, as well as three new rail/tram interchanges.

John Webster

Malleny Avenue

Balerno