Letters: TIE should be put under the microscope over contract

HAVING read the article "Trams-End of the Line" and your editorial (News, 7 June) I find that the comments by the editor are in direct contrast to the known facts.

The News has supported the project, even in recent times when the project has shown signs of stress they have maintained that stance with the proviso that it does so on the basis that "the project must be delivered on time and on budget".

Given that all involved now agree that it is neither on time nor on budget, one would have to ask why the project still enjoys their support.

Add to this the fact that TIE, the council's wholly-owned company, has lost seven out of eight adjudications, the most recent being two decisions against them on the retaining walls in the Murrayfield area.

Is it brave or just plain stupid to go to court given the adjudication history?

Why does your editorial heap praise on Councillor Mackenzie when you know fine well that the councillor has been a member of the board of TIE for some time and has been instrumental in the decisions taken by them to date and the considerable disinformation produced by them to support a deteriorating performance on TIE's part?

For him to maintain that Bilfinger Berger is being unreasonable in not continuing with the work before agreeing a price for the design changes, this is rich given that the work to get Princes Street open for Christmas has not been paid for.

There are always two sides to any problem. As someone with 40 years' experience in the construction industry I am sure that neither is blameless, but for a newspaper to continuously report one side of a dispute is an abuse of privilege.

Given that TIE wrote the contacts under dispute, should TIE not be put under the microscope?

John R T Carson BSc CEng FICE FCIHT, Kirkliston Road, South Queensferry

Bus machines are not registering

I EXPERIENCED a similar situation to Dr John Cummins (Interactive, 1 June). My bus pass did not register on the drivers' machines several times and I was told to pay.

I phoned the helpline number on the back of the pass to be told new bus machines were not always compatible with the microchip in the bus pass. This arrived at my home five days later.

Surely bus drivers and the travelling public could be made aware of this situation to avoid upset and confusion? Apparently it is a fairly common problem.

Mrs O'Neill, Wester Hailes, Edinburgh

Paint will get the bandstand in tune

IT IS good to see that the Scottish Country Dancing has begun again in the Ross Bandstand in West Princes Street Gardens. Over the last few years our council has stated that it intends to pull the building down and turn it in to something new.

With money being tight just now, would a renovation and a lick of paint not serve it perfectly well until our economy picks up again?

I have been at the bandstand a number of times this year, and it looks as if our council is deliberately trying to run it in to the ground to justify the structure being torn down so that something else can be put in its place.

Andrew Murphy, Royal Mile, Edinburgh

Support is vital to help with illness

WE WERE delighted to see the feature in Friday's paper regarding the Teenage Cancer Trust East of Scotland Appeal and would like to draw your attention to the websites mentioned – www.dontstopbelieving.org.uk and www.teenagecancertrust.org/eastofscotlandappeal – to give readers the chance to find out more about the appeal, how to donate to this worthwhile cause and enter the car competition while doing so.

Local support is vital in ensuring we set up those services to make life easier for young people already dealing with the challenges of illness.

Dawn Crosby, head of Scotland & Northern Ireland, Teenage Cancer Trust