Letters: Lock decision makers in the tram and throw away key

The city, with its never-ending excavation mobs, resembles a bomb site. The effect on struggling businesses is ongoing devastation – will they survive? Shandwick Place in particular often resembles a ghost town.

The inconvenience to the public at large has been borne too long – will it ever end?

Well, enough is enough. I personally wish I had the power to put that empty hunk of tin to good use. I would gather all the councillors responsible for the decision to bring back the trams, lock them all in and pelt them with over-ripe tomatoes.

The question is, would I ever let them out?

Mrs Sylvia M DeLuca, Baberton Park, Juniper Green, Edinburgh

Fond farewell to a special school

REGARDING "End of an era" (News, 29 June). On Monday, myself and several former pupils from St Margaret's School met up and visited our old school for one last time. We did not want to intrude on what was the final school day, but wanted to say our own goodbyes, in our own way, to something that was a huge part of our own lives for many years.

Even though the upset of the pupils, teachers, janitor and cleaners (some have been at the school for 18 years) on their final day was evident, they could not have been more welcoming and happy to exchange experiences of life at "St Mag's" with us.

It seems so sad that St Margaret's could not have been saved. We as former pupils appreciated that everyone was so warm to us on that sad day and wish you all very best in finding new schools and jobs after the sudden closure of this special school.

Lorna Barbour, Westgate, North Berwick, East Lothian

Greens are go for city by-election

I WAS disappointed that your coverage of the forthcoming Liberton/Gilmerton by-election had no mention of the Green candidate, Phyl Meyer.

After all, for the last three years Edinburgh has been a five-party local authority, a position which I fully expect to be enhanced at the next council elections in 2012. In the meantime, the by-election gives voters an early opportunity to vote for something different to the four other parties who have so conspicuously failed when given the reins of government.

Alison Johnstone, Green councillor for Meadows and Morningside, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh

Numbers do not add up for Labour

THE new Labour MP for Edinburgh South writes to constituents that "the vast majority of voters in Edinburgh South rejected the Tories and what they stand for". Since he won the seat with 34.7 per cent of the votes and a majority of only 316 votes, it follows that an almost equally vast majority (65.3 per cent) voted against him and his Labour colleagues. The most effective way of preventing the Tories from running Scotland is to vote for the Scottish National Party and a resumption of Scotland's independent status.

Robin MacCormick, Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh

Time to cash in on new banking plan

AMONGST the political parties there seems to be widespread agreement that a state-owned Green Investment Bank could fund low-carbon industries, leverage in private sector investment and give green investment projects a kick-start.

However, political will is not enough. For green projects to succeed, developers require access to significant capital, which traditional investors are cautious to provide.

The Green Investment Bank could be the catalyst required to get green start-ups off the ground and make a real difference to green energy projects.

Private markets must look to the long-term benefits of green investment so we can realise the significant rewards to be reaped.

Tom Speirs, partner, Corporate, HBJ Gateley Wareing, Canning Street, Edinburgh