Letter: Tram trials

The statement in David McLetchie's article, "Tear up trams contract, demand critics" (2 October) that "it's time to show Bilfinger the door, sue for damages and for TIE to step in to complete the works in progress in partnership with the firms who are presently working as subcontractors and keen to keep the project going" is naive.

Anyone who has a real knowledge of the construction industry should know that this would be a recipe for an even bigger catastrophe. The Parliament project was run by a very expert project manager and got into trouble because the client kept changing its mind but at least the project manager and the client were separate.

McLetchie's proposal would have a client acting as the project manager and that would result in even bigger problems, particularly from the financial point of view.

His suggestion is irresponsible but, being a solicitor as well as a politician, he qualifies his statement with the words "if Bilfinger is in breach of contract". This, of course, is the nub of the problem and, given the fact that Bilfinger has won 13 out of the 15 adjudications which have already been held during the course of the works, it would seem very unlikely that Bilfinger is in breach.

So, TIE now finds itself in the ridiculous position of having to terminate the contract, resulting in legal action which it will almost certainly lose. It will also lose even more of our funds.

I frequently use the No 22 bus, which the tram would replace, and find it to be an excellent service. The airport bus, which the tram would also replace, is also an excellent service. We never did need the trams but we need the likely consequences of TIE's incompetence even less.

Roy Milne, FRIAS

Russell Place

Edinburgh

It is becoming obvious in Edinburgh that the 26 trams will not have a track to run on as money dwindles and as the Great Edinburgh Tram Folly heads towards the Court of Session.

Edinburgh should offer the trams to Glasgow to run on the underground or to use as the city's airport link.

An alternative is a modern art installation in which the trams are wrecked and piled up into a huge sculpture, in standard modern industrial art style on Calton Hill. A compressed smash-up installation of 26 shiny trams could stand as part monument and part reproach.

It would no doubt become a much loved part of the skyline.

Ted Ditchburn

Great Stuart Street

Edinburgh