Letters: Sticking with trams is like paying to keep a dud car on the road

Is it time to pull the plug on the trams, or would that waste all previous efforts and money?

I am incensed by the trams project. It should have gone to a public referendum in the first place. No-one I know supports the trams and I think we all knew from the start that it was going to be a disaster.

It's about time the MSPs and Edinburgh City Council started to listen to the people. It's time to now scrap the whole exercise. There has been enough time, money and upheaval wasted on this failing project.

Many small businesses have folded already. At this time we are in the middle of a recession - many businesses are just trying to keep their heads above water. Are there to be more victims? The only way to stop it getting worse again is to halt the trams.

What body in its right mind would approve such a project? None that I know of! Yet the city council insists on wasting tax payers' money on just such a project. Will they run out of money again before finishing? It's now time to cut our losses and put the trams to bed.

Edinburgh has a wonderful, award-winning bus service which recently had to reduce its services. Think what the extra money to finish the trams could do for our public transport service.

If it was originally introduced to cut emissions then the remaining money could go towards transforming all our public transport to biofuel and making what we already have greener and extending the service. What is the point of a tram service that only runs from the airport to the town centre, if that far? This project is a disaster!

I am afraid that I can only compare it to an old car - when it starts costing more and more money every year but doesn't get any better, it's time to get rid of it.

Nicola Gowers, Cockenzie, East Lothian

Fire breathes life into the economy

I'M disappointed in the news that the fees for the Beltane Fire Festival may be hiked to the point where the charitable organisation cannot afford to put on the show (News, May 18). After a couple of years of saving money, my husband and I plan to travel from the United States to Scotland - in particular to attend the Beltane Fire Festival in April 2012.While we're there in Scotland attending the festival, we plan to stay a couple of weeks in Scotland, including in hotels and restaurants in Edinburgh, pumping money into the Edinburgh and Scotland economy.

If just 20 visitors travel to Scotland to participate in and view the Beltane Fire Festival, I think the result would be a net benefit to your economy.

I sincerely hope that something can be worked out.

Mary Larson, Colorado, United States

Thanks for end to absurd park strife

ON behalf of the Edinburgh Licensed Taxi Partnership, I wish to place on record our appreciation of the recent help given by Historic Scotland to the problems caused by limiting access to Holyrood Park.

The problems arose when rules adopted in the 1970s were applied wrongly to restrict taxis carrying adverts from travelling through Holyrood Park. In light of this we made representation to Historic Scotland and were able to secure discussions.

From the outset it was clear that Historic Scotland was aware of how absurd the ruling was and had already began to secure changes that would bring a rapid resolution to the problems. It was also clear that Historic Scotland had made other agencies, such as the police, aware of its approach.

As reported in the News, the matter has now been resolved. We are delighted that this inconvenience to the travelling public and unnecessary obstacle to our members earning a living has been removed.

Jeremy Sweeny, Edinburgh Licensed Taxi Partnership

Show regard for the safety of all

AS a cyclist of some 30-odd years, I have gradually seen the standard of behaviour and common courtesy fall by all road users, including pedestrians.

I know it is a minority of cyclists, car users, pedestrians and professional drivers who make the roads and pavements (in some cases) more difficult and dangerous places, but I feel the minority is growing.

So let's show greater regard for the safety of others please.

Derek Cranston, Leith