TRAMS: Ecological urban transport or an ugly scar on a town?

Despite the harsh financial times, our town council is still keen on a scheme to get trams back on the streets. While I'm a rail fan I abhor trams, I hate with a passion the messy overhead line equipment and the look of tramlines in the streets. The tram scheme brochures handed to town residents show a similar scheme in Holland, except in the brochures, photographs show the pantograph but all the overhead line equipment (and rails) have been airbrushed out! So what's your opinion on trams, ecological urban transport or an ugly scar on a town?