Letters: Don't clog up the city streets with this replica tram

The last thing I want to see on Constitution Street is a replica tram and I am sure the vast majority of my fellow motorists will agree.

Constitution Street is part of my route to and from work. I most often use the section between the junctions of Bernard Street and Queen Charlotte Street. Over the last six months or so this part of my route has been closed due to on-going tram works.

However, rather than close the street altogether and get on with all the work that needs done it has been opened and closed to traffic three times. This confuses me and probably many others as well. I never know from one week to the next if it is going to be open.

At present Constitution Street is closed to traffic and has been for the last three weeks or so. However, I still pass by on a regular basis and there appears to be little or no work taking place.

Rather than placing replica trams on streets all across Edinburgh I would urge the authorities to get on with the job in hand and get our roads open to the general motorist again. I certainly don't pay my road tax for a model tram to sit blocking it all day!

Mr Alastair Macintyre, Webster Place, Rosyth

Boycott will show public's feelings

AS the tram project inevitably crawls to its overrun and overspend I wonder if council and parliamentary politicians have considered a probable consequence.

The people of Edinburgh are not strangers to a transport boycott when annoyed. Just ask a well known private bus company which attempted a fare war with Lothian Buses some years ago.

Of course to boycott something one needs a choice.

Given that the vast majority of Edinburgh's citizens will have access to the bus and have no need of a tram the boycott may well naturally look after itself.

John Barkess, Upper Coltbridge Terrace, Edinburgh

Charity donations end up in rubbish

ON Wednesday I was taking a number of VHS videos and DVDs to hand in to the Salvation Army's charity shop in Gorgie Road.

On reaching the premises I was appalled to see TWO large black industrial refuse bins overflowing with clothing, toys, boxed games, jigsaws and CDs awaiting collection from the refuge lorry.

There were even several black liner bags full of toys/games lying in front of the bins, obviously because the bins were so full.

I realise there must be certain things that have to be rejected because of condition or damage etc, but surely some of these items could be recycled to other sources that distribute worldwide to less privileged children.

I was so disgusted with this seemingly waste of useable material , I continued to the next charity shop with my donations.

Mr Brian Hayward, Carrick Knowe Loan, Edinburgh

Cruel animal traps must be banned

YOUR report "Quick thinking teens save life of deer trapped in deadly snare" (News, April 8) highlights just how horrific these traps are. It is appalling they are still legal and what is more shocking is the Scottish Government chose not to ban them when it had the opportunity but instead introduced measures to regulate their use.

This latest incident shows regulation is not the answer and only a ban will stop animals suffering in this terrible way. Snares injure, and in many cases kill, thousands of animals every year from foxes and rabbits to protected species and even cats and dogs.

These cruel traps have no place in a civilised society.

Louise Robertson, Scottish Campaigns Manager, League Against Cruel Sports, Limekilns, Fife

Make them pay for jobs being saved

IT occurs to me that sacked employees of RBS and other failing businesses in the banking and automotive industries are being asked to pay twice for their companies' failings – and that is unfair.

They will pay the ultimate price of losing their job, and to add insult to injury will be asked to pay again in the 1250 per household (so far) of increased taxation that the chancellor intends to levy to pay for the financial bail-outs he has given to failed companies.

Whereas those in these failed institutions who keep their jobs will only pay once, and additionally have their employment (through government bailouts) subsidised by the taxpayer.

It would be fairer if the tax increases required to cover the government bailouts were doubled for people remaining in employment in any failed company which has taken government money to prop it up.

In that way the tax burden for the rest of us would be properly reduced, and those remaining in employment in these companies would be contributing more appropriately for the preservation of their jobs.

David Fiddimore, Calton Road, Edinburgh

Dissent fine if kept within the rules

GINA DAVIDSON (No need to fear dissenting views, April 9) misses my point. Again!

I don't mind dissent. It's healthy. Just keep it within the rules that help make us a civilised society. Otherwise you end up with anarchy.

Cameron Rose, councillor, Southside and Newington