Letters: Trams firm TIE must put its money where its mouth is

You report of John Campbell, QC, and James Simpson's offer to chair a three-day meeting between TIE and Bilfinger Berger in the hope of agreeing a mutually-acceptable way forward for the Edinburgh tram project (Trams peace talks proposal 'simple and patronising', News, November 16).

This has been welcomed by various politicians and by Bilfinger Berger, which has also suggested full public disclosure of all the information relating to the project. If TIE truly wishes to demonstrate its oft-repeated commitment to "protect the public purse", then why would it not wish to enter wholeheartedly into mediation gratis?

It is to be hoped that TIE will accept this offer and co-operate fully, if only to demonstrate the strength of its case before committing the taxpayer to lengthy and costly litigation. If court proceedings are raised, full public disclosure of all the information and adjudications will be required in any event, so there can be no acceptable reason for procrastination.

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The funds remaining to complete the tram project are diminishing and endless delay will force costs ever upwards.

The possibility of the council having to fund an expensive legal action could be the final death knell for the trams and a further unbudgeted financial headache for the city. Let TIE prove its case in the taxpayers' court before committing us to such a drastic step.

Mrs A J Bourne, Groathill Road South, Edinburgh

Act now to stop a fearful future

YOUR article "Fears for future as care home places fall in Lothians" (News, November 8) reinforced the need for a whole new approach to the ageing tsunami that's coming our way.

The article noted that the number of care home places for the elderly in Edinburgh has dropped sharply. However, everybody who understands the scale of the official ageing statistics knows that this isn't a question of whether we should build more care homes.

We need to start designing and developing the highest quality residential care home environments - that enhance the daily lives of their residents and offer new levels of care. We need to ensure all new housing is accessible and easily adapted to our changing needs as we get older.

People need to know about the choices available to them. This would allow us to stop being fearful of the future, instead we could be reassured that we were taking positive proactive strides towards our ageing population, and its many opportunities.

Lisa McMyn, founder, Ruby Slippers, Lasswade

Sinking feeling about memorial

On Tuesday, a dreich winter's day, I attended the unveiling of the Merchant Navy memorial, conducted by HRH Princess Anne.

This beautiful sculpture designed by Jill Watson is a worthy acknowledgement of all who served in the Merchant Navy, especially those involved in two world wars. Given that Leith at one time was Britain's second busiest port, it was surprising and sad to learn that neither Edinburgh nor just Leith has its own Merchant Navy association.

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The service was not as well attended as it might have been. Unfortunately, for an amalgam of reasons, we now live in a society with little or no regard or respect for either person or property. How long will it be before the beautifully sculptured figurines at the base of the sculpture are purloined or vandalised? This was an observation made by a few of those attending the service.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven Main Street, Edinburgh

Labour's lost its right to slam SNP

A FAILED Labour Party has little right to criticise the SNP.

Instead of playing petty party politics, while conveniently ignoring its part in our economic crisis, any Labour Party worthy of the name would help a weak SNP find alternatives to Tory austerity cuts.

Some sort of Left alliance that puts fairness first and greed last, an alliance that includes Labour and the SNP, is long overdue in Scotland.

Jack Fraser, Clayknowes Drive, Musselburgh