Letters: Whisper it .. some of us are quietly rooting for trams

It is recognised worldwide that there are three things needed to deliver a project like this; political consensus, assured financing and technical skills. Britain is not alone in providing examples of politicians spotting what they think is an anti-tram bandwagon and trying to make political capital.

This is damaging because delivery of such a scheme almost invariably extends over electoral periods, creating more chances of spouting populist rubbish, the latest example being in Toronto.

I have friends in the SNP who I know are tram advocates, but who presumably have to keep a low profile. I hope it will be a reassurance to Cllr Dawe that there are many of us patiently (and quietly) waiting for the new tramway to be up and running, even though we recognise some of the faults that have arisen over the years.

I say "quietly" because we are thoroughly disgusted at the destructive noise made continually by those like John RT Carson, a self-appointed "long- term critic" and "former head of maintenance at Network Rail", who doesn't seem to see the irony apparent to everyone else.

The railways have been chronically unable to deliver projects on time and within budget for years; think of the upgrading of the West Coast Main Line, on which the objective to run trains at 140mph has never been delivered.

N Mackenzie, Grange Loan, Edinburgh

Shedding light on road safety

IN abnormally cold and snowy weather it was always the case that motorists used headlights even during daylight as this improved the chances of being seen by cyclists and pedestrians.

Likewise motorists regularly checked, often with the assistance of a traffic policeman, that all their lights were in full working order.

Sadly the force does not now seem to get involved with these important road safety matters, saying it's solely the responsibility of the car/taxi driver.

Why do many motorists not use their indicators? Their correct use would be of great assistance to many fellow drivers.

Colin C Maclean, Hillpark Avenue, Edinburgh

'Respect' agenda for Scotland over

THE UK Con-Dem Government's proposals to leave Scotland with only one full-time Coastguard station at Aberdeen, covering more than 6,000 miles of shoreline, beggars belief and is a clear indication that the UK Government's 'respect agenda' for Scotland is well and truly over.

The closure of the Forth and Clyde coastguard stations, and for either Shetland or Stornoway to provide daylight cover, will cost lives and have serious public safety implications.

Its drive for budget cuts is therefore a false economy with the impact it will have on safety.

In addition, jobs and considerable experience will be lost, with a major impact on many already fragile communities.

The UK Government must reconsider this damaging move and a cross-party, cross-council, consensus must be garnered north of the Border to fight these proposals.

Alex Orr, SNP Lothians candidate, Leamington Terrace, Edinburgh

Shelling out for tiny little eggs

WHAT, oh what, has happened to the British egg?

Because of the snow, my wife bought a tray of 15 eggs marked "Grade A large eggs" at our local grocer.

On returning home she opened the tray to put the eggs in the fridge.

I was beckoned to the kitchen with the call of "come and see this".

I went through to find a tray of what I thought were pigeon eggs.

They were that tiny, I was going to add a photo to this letter, but my camera is not equipped to take pictures of small objects.

We used to be told to "Go to work on an egg". Change that to half a dozen eggs!

Brian Hayward, Carrick Knowe Loan, Edinburgh