Letters: Open up the streets with car-free day in the Capital

The council will be well-experienced in tram related traffic management measures, and a high-profile campaign coupled with travel and retail promotions could encourage thousands more visitors to flock into the city.

This would deliver an economic boost as well as demonstrating the benefits of pedestrianisation.

After all, visitors to the city centre end up on foot at some point, and the current inadequate provision for pedestrians is a deterrent to shoppers and tourists.

This is a chance for the council to be bold and visionary, to the benefit of all.

Iain Paton, Pilgrims Hill, Linlithgow, West Lothian

City blighted by two acts of folly

FIRST it was the monstrosity of a building which is home to the Scottish Parliament. Would the former Donaldson's School not make a better parliament building? Holyrood could be turned into a hotel or hostel.

Now we have the trams fiasco, if it ever gets up and running. I give it 20 years at most, then they will tear it all up. Call a halt now and cut the losses.

What has Scotland's capital done to be tainted with not one, but two such acts of folly?

David McDonald, Redhall Drive, Edinburgh

Don't blame SNP for trams fiasco

JOHN Carson knows much about engineering but clearly knows very little about the political process (Interactive, January 31).

In trying to blame the Lib Dem/SNP administration of the council for the trams fiasco, he forgets to mention it was not this administration which pushed the trams through as one part of it, the SNP, has consistently voted against it. Labour, Conservative and the Liberal Democrats are all in favour of the trams, not us!

The SNP declined the opportunity to be represented on the TIE board which is there to scrutinise and manage the project (while the Lib Dems have two directors and the Conservatives and Labour one each) because as opponents of the scheme it would have been unthinkable to do so.

We do, however, want to see the current situation regarding the trams brought to a conclusion (one way or another).

Norman Work, SNP councillor for Almond ward

Labour MP has a short memory

THE gall of Sheila Gilmore MP knows no bounds (Interactive, February 1)!

She complains that the Conservative led UK Government won't change the identity laws for opening a bank account. Not only was it a lack of regulation of financial services under Labour, along with profligate spending, that led to Gordon Brown's recession, but the very rules she complains about were introduced by the same Labour Government that she presumably supported. They said they were necessary to prevent money laundering and to fight terrorism. Is Ms Gilmore saying that is no longer the case?

It strikes me she has a very short memory indeed.

Iain Whyte, Conservative Group Finance Spokesman, Edinburgh City Council

Driver proved that manners still exist

I WISH to thank an Edinburgh bus driver for his outstanding care and good manners.

I was making my way to my nearest bus stop. As I am no longer Olympic material, my present speed is dead slow and stop.

I was nowhere near my stop when I saw my No 44 streak past me. Oh well, I muttered to myself, just have to wait for the next one.

But guess what, the lovely driver waited patiently until I reached the vehicle, I didn't even have to stop him.

Who said good manners are dead nowadays? A true gentleman indeed.

Sylvia M De Luca, Baberton Park, Juniper Green, Edinburgh