When I was a small boy in Edinburgh my father took me to see the last tram roll along Princes Street. The lord provost waved to the crowds as the tram disappeared into history. The next day workmen began pulling up the track. Fifty years later, the rails were relaid, only for Edinburgh city council to decide last week to abandon plans to run trams on them again.

Another expedition with my father took me to the National Monument at the east end of Princes Street. A replica of the Parthenon overlooking Edinburgh’s New Town was planned to mark the delight of citizens at the end of the Napoleonic wars. Unfortunately, the delight of the citizens was less than anticipated.

A few lonely pillars, colloquially known as “Edinburgh’s Disgrace”, have stood there since 1830 when the money ran out. As did the money for the tram. Edinburgh’s second disgrace will be a half completed tramway running from Edinburgh airport to Haymarket, some distance short of the city centre.