Trams to Leith: there’s still time to derail these plans – Hayley Matthews

I always love taxi drivers’ chat. I don’t get in taxi often but when I do I always ask what their thoughts are on what is happening in the city.

Work begins on the tram line extension to Leith in Constitution Street. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

These are the people who are driving the city day in day out, witnessing what is going on and they have a lot to say.

So when the taxi driver at the weekend started to tell me his thoughts on the Leith Walk tram situation I was all ears.

“They’re really going to go ahead with it,” he exclaimed! Yes, my sentiments exactly. How on earth, after turning Leith Walk into a ghost town by digging it all up, then calling it all off, can anyone seriously believe that this time it will be a positive? It doesn’t make sense to me.

I don’t think we need trams going down Leith Walk. I don’t think there is a benefit and I don’t think it should go ahead.

We have an award-winning bus company running services down the Walk every five minutes so surely digging up the road will just cause mass chaos, job losses and many shop closures.

So come on Edinburgh Council – admit that it is a bad idea and don’t just follow through on it for the sake of pride, stubborness or because you’re trying to prove a point.

We need trams on Leith Walk about as much as we need smoked salmon gravlax in the City Chambers – a sandwich from Boots will do!