Letters: Tram alternative could have been a trolley good show

SCOTLAND cannot afford to have its money spent on what we now know is not a "world class" tram, offering for its enormous length no more seats than a bus, and cramped ones at that. By TIE's definition it is a commuter tram, hence standing room for 170 people at full fare!

The scheme was pushed through hell for leather and a public inquiry was pushed aside. We have one of Britain's best bus services, but that has already been tampered with. If it is a question of pollution, there are streamlined "bendy" trolley buses in other towns which would look just as glamorous, don't obstruct other traffic and roads do not have to be ripped up. We could have a smooth ride in a bus if the money was spent on repairing our dismal roads.

Do we need a line to the airport when we have a train running alongside it which had a stop at Turnhouse Airport?

A stop could be reinstated nearby with a short shuttle running into the terminal building. It would also cater for passengers coming from the north, who could leave their cars at their local train station.

Has anyone noticed that airline passengers prefer to take their car or taxi from their home to the airport, along with their luggage (and kids)?

J I Visser, Esplanade Terrace, Edinburgh

Don't encourage foxes with food

I READ with great interest the article by Laura Cummings on foxes (News, 8 June) and should we be afraid of them. The real question that needs answered is "are our children safe from them when we let them sleep?" Now we all know the answer to that.

Why do the so-called fox experts not admit to the general public that if a fox could take a baby from a cot or pram it would? If a baby is asleep in a garden in a pram, and that garden backs into an area where foxes live, I think if an adult is present you don't have a problem. The problem is if the baby fills a nappy and starts to cry. The sound of a baby crying is similar to a hare in distress or a new-born lamb, even to a rabbit in distress.

This cry will pull a fox directly to the child and if the child is left unattended for even a moment, a fox could take advantage of the situation.

Regarding another thing mentioned in Ms Cummings' article, larger foxes don't just live in the countryside, they have been in the Edinburgh area for a long time. I am employed as gamekeeper on a 400-acre estate on the edge of Edinburgh. In 11 years I have disposed of a lot of foxes and I have come across very large specimens, some the size of small Labradors.

We have on our estate a farm shop, and I overheard a lady at the checkout saying: "I need two trays of Winalot for the foxes." So now we know why some foxes are larger than others.

Foxes do not belong in towns, please don't feed these creatures.

Dennis Fraser, Drum, Edinburgh

Pity for the poor birds at this party

A PITY the revellers on Cramond were stranded (News, 7 June), but I feel more sorry for the swallows that are nesting in both large pillboxes on the island.

Maybe next time the party can be held in the open air.

Scott Bremner, Robertson's Court, Edinburgh

Football seen with eyes of others

ON TOP of being ruled by a British Government the voters strongly rejected at the ballot box, and now facing the prospect of viewing the football World Cup through the eyes of a British media seen as biased, it comes as no great surprise that many Scots will not be supporting England.

Wall-to-wall coverage of English footballers before the first ball is even kicked is starting to grate. Imagine fervent English fans having to watch the World Cup, say through the eyes of a German media. I'm sure they would be as peeved as fervent Scottish supporters. If Scotland had autonomy, this festival of international soccer would be covered by a neutral Scottish media. Scots, like people from other democratic nations, would then be free to support or not support any country they saw fit.

Jack Fraser, Clayknowes Drive, Musselburgh