Tram lesson plan

It would help were rate-
payers to be told what lessons have been learned when we read (your report, 6 December) that Edinburgh City Council plans to extend the tram system to Leith as originally intended.

The latest plan, costing £80 million, should at the least be spelled out, given that the original and still incomplete system took a long time coming, at more than double the cost and with the loss of some small businesses on the route.

There might, as suggested, be developers with money to spare to help bankroll this plan – and presumably not involving the tactics of a major food company with its suppliers to raise investment!

Otherwise, how can the City afford extra borrowing costs when we are also told the council has to save £138m by 2017, presumably not without affecting services.

Jim Craigen

Downie Grove

Edinburgh