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Hotel enjoys discount on its trams levy, while parents aren't happy about being gagged and the iPhone connects to city

Hotel developer Fraser Hamilton is being given a 250,000 discount on its tram levy to ensure the scheme goes ahead.

Ignoring the issues with whether the trams should exist in the first place and their ever-increasing budget, surely something that puts money into it should be welcome. It's better that there's an incentive and the company pays over 800,000 then the site sits empty and the money has to come out of the ever-dwindling council coffers. Something is normally better than nothing.

James Collins

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"Traders in Leith Walk have suffered from the development of the tram and I'm sure it will stick in their throats if a new developer is not paying their way." If new developments have to stump up for the "benefits" of the tram running past their door, why shouldn't existing business also pay for the hordes who'll happily trek upwards of a mile from the nearest tram stop to their door?

Bring Back Poll Tax

The developers' discount of 250k is a further 250k which will now doubtless be borrowed by the council on our behalf and which we shall have to repay back with interest from future budgets. Why should we borrow funds to help a developer which could borrow on its own account?

Sarah B, Edinburgh

Sorry to interrupt, Sarah B, but we're moving on, and parents say the council has banned them from criticising closures on school websites and e-mail. Okay, Sarah, go ahead . . .

God Almighty! I thought we had ousted the bullies at the last local election but it appears not. I am not sure how a council which has committed itself to "listening" and "engaging" and "consulting" and "empowering" the public so that it may have influence in decisions can justify their actions here, particularly if no costs are being incurred to the council.

Sarah B, Edinburgh

As I've said before on these forums, the Liberal Democrats are neither "liberal" nor "democratic" when faced with dissent in the ranks. Their authoritarian streak is epitomised by Jabba MacLaren.

Thomas the Tank, Edinburgh

We got this letter through our school pupil mail before Christmas. But then our head is more interested in educating the kids than pandering to the council. Seems the primaries care more about this than the high schools.

Jules59, Edinburgh

The parents didn't get 100 per cent backing.

Good on the education chiefs, it's about time someone gagged the parents.

The Real Alfonsa Pedrosa, Edinburgh

Get mobile around the city with a new tour guide app on your iPhone, apparently.

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An iPhone doesn't have a beard, wear a kilt and wander around pointing at stuff and muttering "och aye the noo".

reincarnated, Edinburgh

So we'll have dozens/hundreds ot tourists wandering about, not looking where they are going because they'll be too engrossed in the screen on their iPhone! Brilliant . . . more barging ahead!

Grumpy of Grassmarket, Central

Will it recommend supporting the iBees?

Gridlocked