Letters: Sorry to say 'told you so', but SNP right to be wary of trams

Fact 1: As far back as 21 December 2006 I moved an amendment to the administration motion of support for the trams which included the following "To agree that the 'Business Case' for the Edinburgh Tram works had not been made and to agree that the financial risks coupled with the planned route and technical difficulties dictate that work on this project should cease as soon as possible".

I am recorded as the only councillor who voted for this amendment with 56 other councillors voting to approve the Draft Business Case.

Fact 2: On 28 June 2007 I moved at council a motion which included "To assess that the assumed risk was too great and that council finances could be detrimentally affected with serious consequences for the citizens of Edinburgh. To agree therefore not to proceed with the scheme and investigate other options to improve the public transport system in Edinburgh".

The vote shows that 44 councillors voted to "reaffirm" the council's commitment to the Edinburgh tram project with 12 councillors (SNP Group) voting for the amendment to stop the scheme.

Fact 3: At the council meeting of 30 April 2009 I moved a motion that the Edinburgh tram network be "scrapped". The record shows 12 votes for the motion (SNP Group).

At the meeting referred to on 1 May 2008, council noted that the contracts were being issued as, despite the SNP's best efforts, council had decided to proceed with the scheme. The SNP moved an amendment in an effort to protect the interests of the traders in Leith Walk and Constitution Street. Ms Wales would have people believe that this is evidence that the SNP supported the tram project. Nonsense. We recognised that the council had already agreed the scheme and merely sought to attempt to protect traders whose businesses had been in their family for generations in some cases.

Ms Wales as a tram supporter is probably concerned that the SNP's misgivings about this project have proved to be well founded. The SNP derives no pleasure from saying "we told you so", but actually, we did!

Councillor Steve Cardownie, Leader of the SNP Group

Venue plan would really rock Granton

I SAW that city chiefs are in talks over plans for a huge new concert arena near the airport (News, 16 March).

While that might sound like good news and will save concert-goers from having to go to Glasgow for many of the big-name gigs which miss out the Capital, I can't help thinking Edinburgh should be aiming higher.

A venue out of the city would be lucrative only to its owner, who would presumably also be ready to scoop up all food/drink and accommodation revenues.

Cities such as Manchester attract huge acts with more centrally-located venues, with all the spin-offs for local businesses.

A large arena in the city (what about the "deer park" in Granton?) would be a boost in a time of great need for the economy and would reaffirm Edinburgh's status as a cultural capital.

Mr K Welsh, Easter Road, Edinburgh

Put a stop to cow post-mortem op

I AM absolutely appalled that a post-mortem operation is to be carried out on a cow at Edinburgh Zoo (News, 10 March).

I hope this terrible procedure does not go ahead.

Pamela Burton, North Bughtlin Gate, Edinburgh

Unions out to sink Labour as in 1979

IN 1979, the trade unions torpedoed the Labour government with the "Winter of Discontent". Now it is happening again, with Unite calling for airline strikes, handing the keys of No 10 Downing Street to the Tories.

Andrew JT Kerr, Castlegate, Jedburgh

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