Talking cobbles

Do we think Shirley Manson had in mind the likes of Shandwick Place or Ainslie Place when she wrote "I love the cobble stones. I just think it's a really beautiful city to walk around and get lost in" – the council's suggested quote for the side of the trams (your report, 23 March)?

The council wants to close Shandwick Place to traffic for the benefit of the trams; the cobbled Ainslie Place, part of the World Heritage zone, it wants to funnel traffic through to take it away from the trams.

As a result Randolph Crescent and Ainslie Place now have what seems to be the one of the highest pollution ratings in central Edinburgh and more than 1,000 cars per hour each way. I suspect thatShirley may rather find other cobbled cities to lose herself in in future.

RODERICK MILLAR

Moray Place

Edinburgh

Michael Traill (Letters, 22 March) raises interesting points. Free bus travel for senior citizens is a universal benefit and this "elderly" person (has no-one told him that 60 is the new 40?) really enjoys it. However, the qualifying age for the bus pass (60) seems not even to be linked to the rising age for entitlement to state pension.

It is very difficult to cost the benefit to health and happiness of free bus outings, or to the environment of reduced car usage.

However, I suspect these benefits cannot compete with the greater need for spending on the essentials of education and health, especially during a recession. Surely that is the nettle we must grasp, rather than focusing on parity for tram and bus travel?

So, yes, I for one would happily give up my bus pass, or pay something towards it.

MOYRA FORREST

Starbank Road

Edinburgh