Remember why we got rid of trams

WILLIE Gallagher, chairman of TIE, is correct that "public transport improvements are essential" and for many reasons in this day and age (Your views, November 24). What he perhaps lacks is a working knowledge of the tram system that Edinburgh dispensed with in the 1950s and replaced with flexible, re-routable bus services.

Mr Gallagher claims that house prices along the tram route in Dublin have seen prices rise by 15 per cent in the 17 months since the Light Railway system was introduced. But house prices have increased by that much along the tram route in Edinburgh during the same period without spending 714 million on a tram system.

A few readers may remember that in the late 1950s house prices along the tram routes in Edinburgh were seen to fall as residents could no longer accept disturbance from complete road closures coupled with the floodlights and pneumatic drills that had to be used during the night to carry out routine and emergency maintenance along the tram routes.

A major reason for Edinburgh consigning tramways to history was the increasing rate of minor accidents all the way through to fatalities mainly caused by passengers dismounting or mounting trams.

How can Mr Gallagher justify comparing footfall rises and trading increases in Grafton Street of up to 25 per cent due to the new LUAS light railway system in Dublin by suggesting that shopkeepers in Edinburgh might expect similar dramatic increases in footfall? A single tram stop on Princes Street does not convince this reader on footfall for our main shopping precincts in this area.

Alistair Laing, Great Stuart Street, Edinburgh

Commuters will make the move

THE recent announcement about the huge increase in commuter traffic on the upgraded west coast railway line shows, once again, that people will flock to high quality public transport when it's made available.

The same will be true of Edinburgh trams. Once people experience the speed, comfort and convenience of modern trams, I am sure we will see a big shift from car to tram for commuters.

The success of Sheffield, Nottingham and Dublin show that new tram systems do in fact draw huge patronage and run at profit. The bad early experience in the UK was almost entirely the result of the nonsense of deregulation, an issue the Scottish Parliament needs to address.

Why not a franchise system like the Swiss, which allows good planning but involves both the public and private sector in running the system?

John Webster, Malleny Avenue, Balerno

Relief needed for effect of building

WILLIE GALLAGHER explains the business rates relief to be given to businesses affected by tram construction - using our money.

What he does not explain is that the council has been forced into this move because of pressure from businesses along the route.

Could I now ask when he is going to announce relief to those living in homes beside the construction site, considering their lives will be completely ruined? Little or no concern has been shown by the council for ordinary lives during the construction period.

Mrs S Polson, Blinkbonny Road, Edinburgh

Needled over the damage done

CONGRATULATIONS to Lothian Buses for winning Scotland's National Transport Award of Transport Operator of the Year.

Yet the plans to destabilise Edinburgh's award-winning transport system by reintroducing trams to a city which got rid of its trams in the mid 1950s continue.

One question which cannot be answered is how much environmental damage is going to result from the demolition of buildings, excavation of land and disposal of waste in preparation for the tramlines. At a time when we're trying to use less energy and produce less waste, building a multi million pound limited-use tram system seems to make a mockery of all our efforts.

We already have an award winning city transport system - why don't we let Lothian Buses invest and improve on it, give us more buses and introduce new routes into areas not currently serviced?

Rosemary Macdonald, Corstorphine Bank Drive, Edinburgh.

Grey power isn't black and white

IT is a pity most of the protesters in your photo taken after the Planning Committee meeting (Blame falls on 'grey power' as wheels come off skatepark bid, November 23) were old, as this appeared to back up Donald Anderson's theory that the refusal of planning permission was down to "grey power".

Yes, there may have been lots of old people at the meeting, but it doesn't take a genius to work out that those of us who aren't retired can't usually make it to weekday meetings. I'm 21, and didn't want to miss my lectures. I know plenty of young people who appreciate the grass, trees and tranquillity of Inverleith Park and who were deeply worried by the proposal.

Like me, they wrote in with their concerns. However, it isn't compulsory to include your age in a planning comment, and few did. I don't know how many young people objected, and I certainly don't know how Donald Anderson seems to!

Ross Yarrow, Warrender Park Road, Edinburgh

An insider's tip for skateboard venue

WHY does the skateboard site need to be outdoors? There are two large sites at Fountain Park which have been empty for over 18 months - a former megapub and a night club.

Surely an all-weather indoor skateboard site, adjacent to other entertainment venues and with excellent parking and bus access would be a great asset.

David Liddle, Brandfield Street, Edinburgh

Lost opportunity for Scottish beers

I WAS pleased to hear Scottish & Newcastle had secured the contract to supply the beer to the revellers in Princes Street on Hogmanay. With a captive audience, and over 100,000 potential customers from all corners of the world what a great opportunity to let them drink some great Scottish beers to see in 2007.

I'm sure the revellers will enjoy these two Scottish classics, Fosters Lager and John Smith's Bitter. The Aussies and the English will be in their element.

What a blunder. Step forward the promotions department of S&N to receive the "lost opportunities award" for 2007, before it has even started!

David Paterson, Grange Loan, Edinburgh

Shine some light on office mystery Think before you back those horses Don't be so nasty to Niddrie, please

Shine some light on office mystery

IS the Standard Life building at Tanfield empty?

Every night around 11pm, the place is lit up like a Christmas tree. There doesn't seem to be anyone about yet many individual rooms and the huge open plan office is lit up.

Surely this wastes a tremendous amount of electricity - does Standard Life willingly pay the obviously high electricity bills?

Clare Murdoch, Eildon Street, Edinburgh

Think before you back those horses

I WONDER if gamblers know that more than 370 horses die each year in races. Thousands of youngsters are destroyed before they even get on to a race track.

Why? They are not fast enough! The modem thoroughbred is a lightweight, frail version of what it should be due to the excessive breeding to so few bloodlines. Millions of pounds are made in profit from all of these unfortunates (unlike jockeys, breeders, stable hands etc, the horses cannot decline to participate!) but a mere pittance is set aside for the welfare of these animals. Few reach retirement and far fewer are allowed to live out their natural lifespans.

Before you have a flutter people, think hard about the suffering you are buying into.

(Mrs) Hazel Fraser, Tarbrax, West Calder.

Don't be so nasty to Niddrie, please

WHO does Neil Renilson think he is, passing judgement on Niddrie being unsafe on a Friday night 11pm (My Edinburgh, Evening News, November 24)?

I would rather walk along Niddrie than some places in the city, i.e. Cowgate, Grassmarket or Lothian Road of a night time

David Brown, Niddrie Mains Road, Edinburgh