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The cost to Scotland's economy of replacing the Forth Road Bridge's corroded main cables has been put at a staggering £2.6 billion. And to think, they've just axed the tolls.

Cheaper draining the Forth.
Destroy the Planet

A touch of scaremongering from the Evening News here. If you read the actual report, replacing the cables only costs £122 million. The rest is the knock-on effect of traffic restrictions on the economy. The cost of NOT fixing the bridge would be far higher!
Man of Reason

Scaremongering? Be reasonable, Man of Reason. We did say 'the cost to Scotland's economy' in our report. Besides...Who is Ulf?
Jaco Pastorius, Maine

Haven't you heard of Ulf Ulfsson, great Viking warrior God of suspension bridges?

Man of Reason

No.The money would be better spent on upgrading the M8 and improving the links between Scotland's largest city and its Capital.
Keith 1, Edinburgh

No amount of money, or Viking Gods, will save West Granton's Gala Bingo Hall. Something to do with the smoking ban putting off players. Two old ladies, coughity-cough.

I used to work there and unfortunately in an area like Granton, if they can't smoke, they ain't going to come in. Wonder what all the decrepit inbreds and benefit-sponging single mums will do with their days now.
S.E

Are you aware that not all single mums are benefit-sponging inbreds??!
48thfloor

What about the 70 and 80 year olds who no longer go to these halls or pubs because they can't indulge their habit. This was the only social contact some of these people had.
Disgruntled Black cab customer

There are community centres and churches.
The Genuine Mario Antoinette

The smoking ban seems to get the blame for the demise of many things. Does nobody remember that smoking was banned in cinemas years ago. Yet it was the video that almost killed cinema. Trends come and go. It's called progression.
Jane Plane


Sorry to hear of the closure as I was waiting on one number for the jackpot.
Paul Voltaire

Chill. Donovan – he of hippy hit 'Mellow Yellow' fame – wants to build a university of world peace in Leith, where the emphasis will be on, like, whatever, man...

Can't wait to sign up - I missed most lectures first time around at uni, so I'll have the right attitude for this one!
PC Plod, Leith

A degree in enlightenment and world peace creation. Free upgrade to an MSc if you turn up. Somehow I don't think this university will struggle for social space.
Sarcasm

But will the students be too stoned to play snooker? Tables from a soon-to-close leisure centre are being offered to city schools.

When I was a pupil in the 50s I would have been caned if spotted entering or leaving a billiards room or snooker hall. The wisdom was that engaging in such activities imbued one with future anti-social tendencies. Llistening to today's snooker 'stars' confirms to me that the thinking was very sound.
Loki – Scourge of Schemies