Don't let tram works drain our bars dry

MY business lies in the very middle of the now closed and near deserted road called Shandwick Place. I am the licensee of Au Bar.

I am exasperated for two reasons: the devastating impact of the closure on my business and the lack of resources committed to the works.

To date, there has been no work whatsoever in the half of the closed area from Canning Street to Manor Place. This area is being used as a car and van park. I can see no justification for this part to be closed. On only one day has there been any work in front of my pub. The area worked was approximately 1/6th of the width of the road. On Monday, there was one digger working a tiny area outside Somerfield supermarket.

I have been told repeatedly that the closure was necessary for safety reasons. If you are only working in such limited areas, it is abundantly clear that the road could have been kept open (even if just for buses and taxis) without compromising safety.

If you are adamant that the road remains closed, then at least have workers engaged on the whole length of the road.

It is difficult to be optimistic about this venture given the way it has been managed to date. Whether my business can survive five months of this slow torture is debatable.

Jim Gow, Au Bar


Nuisance merits a quick finish to job

I SEE from the Evening News ("Busy roundabout to be replaced causing further disruption", March 11) that travellers on the east side of the city are in for more misery this summer.

Perhaps someone could explain to me why it will take five months to complete this work when the roundabout at Leith Walk and London Road appeared to be removed in about five days.

Granted the King's Road roundabout might be a slightly larger job, but it seems that the council has not learned anything from the disruption at Milton Link; it would be interesting to know if there was even any investigation of the extent of the delays caused by this work.

The cost in congestion and pollution from traffic going nowhere must surely justify the resources to get the job completed as quickly as possible – seven days a week if necessary.

Jim Nisbet, Kenmure Avenue, Edinburgh


Concerned about safety in the street

AS a resident of Gordon Street, which joins Manderston Street (i.e. Easter Road end is Gordon Street and the Leith Walk end is Manderston Street) I would like to express my grave concerns about the diversion and the fact that having spoken to many of my fellow residents and garage owners, none of us had heard about this.

Gordon Street/Manderston Street is a very busy street as it is, with the traffic from the Mecca bingo hall and the garages. This will be made far more dangerous for the residents especially as there are sheltered housing complexes at both ends of the street.

As a parent of two young children I feel that there will be a major risk of someone being killed as the street is not meant for buses and the kind of traffic that will be going along it.

This has been kept very quiet and the children in the street will not be able to play safely in their own street, or the old people be safe to go out and about safely.

Trish Mellon, Gordon Street, Edinburgh


Crèche cut a tough decision to make

WITH reference to Edinburgh Leisure's decision to downscale creches in its sports facilities, the quote I issued in the press statement was as follows: "Edinburgh Leisure's main job is to provide sports facilities – not childcare. Thirteen pounds per customer for each visit is a huge subsidy and one that isn't sustainable when we are getting the council's finances back on an even keel. If it wasn't the crèches then they would have to stop doing one of their core activities."

My concern was that Edinburgh Leisure may resort to attempting to close one of its core facilities such as Leith Waterworld (which had been suggested) and feel that direct leisure provision to the user had to be protected if possible.

Regrettably the budget had to be trimmed and tough decisions have to be taken. Unfortunately this was one of them and Edinburgh Leisure's choices were restricted.

Steve Cardownie, deputy council leader, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh


Scotland will be loser with local tax

THERE are many deep arguments against a local income tax – for example, the variations between each local authority makes the local income tax even more regressive than the present council tax banding system.

Local income tax rates would be an advantage to the wealthy areas and a disadvantage to the poorer areas. A local income tax would be complex and costly to administrate.

Scotland will lose out on block grants and as the local income tax is a different system than is used for the rest of the UK less revenue would be available for the health services, education and social health care.

Chas Dennis, Niddrie Marischal Road, Edinburgh


Trident blows up housing chances

IN the 1980s the Conservatives sold off the council housing stock. In the late 1990s till last year Labour did nothing to replace the sold-off housing.

In 2008, it falls to the SNP to address the shortage in housing. However, since "devolution" still means the Scottish Government has to beg the money from Gordon Brown in London, and since he is busy spending billions on nuclear power and Trident, it looks like still nothing will be done about housing.

Trevor Swistchew, The Paddockholm, Edinburgh


Why not line up bid for the QE2?

I LEARNED with regret from your article of March 6 that the great liner QE2 was to be sold to the Dubai World Co. Surely it wasn't beyond the bounds of possibility that the Scottish Government would have made a bid for this great liner. After all, it was only a measly £50 million.

Considering the monies squandered in setting up the Edinburgh tram initiative and the Waverley line.

This great liner the last to be built on the Clyde belonged to Scotland and I think a delegation led possibly by Alex Salmond should make a direct appeal to the Dubai Government for the chance to bring this great icon of Scottish endeavour home where she belongs.

Something to be proud of, and an inspiration.

Joe Gardner, Cortleferry Grove, Dalkeith