Letters: Capital and that other place on track for a better future

Are you confident about the future for Edinburgh and Scotland or is there worse to come?

PEOPLE who are lucky enough to live in Edinburgh should not be despondent at the news that Glasgow rates as a better city to do business in than the Capital (News, October 13).

Edinburgh is a fabulous place to live, with splendid architecture enhancing a setting that is the envy of other cities the world over.

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Then there is the buzz that pervades every inch of the place come festival time. Would you swap any of that for Glasgow?

No, but do not forget that our old rivals along the M8 have their own plus points – great shopping and a confidence that will grow as the 2014 Commonwealth Games approach.

Both cities are great attractions in their own ways. Edinburgh has, of course, been held back by a major handicap – the construction of the trams project, with all the problems and costs it has brought.

However, just as Glasgow will enter into a positive vibe when the Games are to begin in a city where run-down areas will have received some much-needed TLC, Edinburgh, we all hope, will be enjoying the benefits of the trams, and visitors will see our splendid Capital as it should be seen, without the dug-up streets and diversions which have plagued it. I hope Scotland will be “miles better” with both cities going strong.

Jack McCade, High Street, Musselburgh

Making a stand against cutbacks

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NEXT Saturday hundreds of disabled Scots and their friends, families and supporters will rally in Edinburgh to protest against the Government’s Welfare Reform Bill.

Many fear this Bill will decimate their living conditions and erode the principle that those with disabilities should be able to live with dignity, as independently as possible.

Almost £1 billion in Scotland could be cut from their incomes over the next four years, just as cuts to local care and support services take effect.

Of course we must tackle this country’s public debt. And yes the current welfare system needs to be overhauled. But too many measures proposed in this Bill remove benefits arbitrarily from the vulnerable, purely to save money.

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Disabled people are not prepared to bear a disproportionate burden.

Lord Colin Low, President, European Blind Union

Proof that money grows on trees

HOW to make money out of thin air: first, find a poor area of Africa, then remove inhabitants and their villages.

Next, plant millions of non-crop trees such as pine and eucalyptus on their land and apply for credits for the atmospheric CO2 absorbed by them: finally, sell these to other countries breaching Kyoto-approved levels of pollution. Who says money doesn’t grow on trees?

With world CO2 emissions much higher then ten years ago and energy prices rocketing, there should be a moratorium on all reduction measures, especially the ridiculously expensive wind farm development, to allow fresh – and honest – debate of the whole question of anthropogenic climate change.

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I assume our parliamentarians studied all aspects of the situation before supporting the present approach, so let them explain their basis for rejection of the considerable body of scientific opposition to the theory, not to mention their denial that CO2 is a pollutant at all.

Robert Dow, Ormiston Road, Tranent

Mackenzie not only one at fault

GINA Davidson’s article “Incompetence is not an excuse” (News, October 13) does not give the full picture.

Two other parties – Labour and the Conservatives – have been represented by elected members on the TIE board since its inception in 2002. None have raised, publicly at least, concerns regarding TIE’s handling of the trams project until recently.

The SNP, however, has regularly questioned TIE and the elected members, so Councillor Mackenzie’s admission comes as no surprise.

To lay the blame solely at his feet is inequitable and leaves a false impression which should be corrected.

Deidre Brock, SNP group secretary, Edinburgh City Council