Letters: Voters should set sights on people behind crazy ideas

THE article by Dave du Feu of Spokes (News, April 12) was almost evangelical in its tone in expressing the good that could be had from cycling, and at the expense of the motorist.

Not to be outdone in this current wave of motorist-bashing, the City Chambers has come up with its latest wizard wheeze of arming the good citizens of Edinburgh with speed guns.

Yes, I can just see it, a Miss J Brodie of Marchmont, dressed in twinset and pearls and sensible shoes skulking between the wheelie bins, ready to ensnare any unsuspecting speedster.

While it’s at it, why doesn’t the council issue cameras to motorists so that it can record those cyclists who make haphazard, and unsignalled, manoeuvres as they weave in and out of traffic?

Also, issue them to pedestrians so that they can film cyclists using pavements and footpaths as velodromes.

At times I feel sorry for the council’s chief executive and her staff who have to try to implement such nonsense.

However, never mind, come May 3 we hopefully will get councillors who realise what they are supposed to do, and properly represent those that have elected them.

David J Mackenzie, Parkgrove Terrace, Edinburgh

Final chance to do Capital proud

WITH London and Glasgow hosting the Olympic and Commonwealth Games respectively, Edinburgh may have felt that it was missing out on great sporting events.

However, now that both of its illustrious football clubs will contest the Scottish Cup final, a unique occasion will put the city very much in the spotlight.

Everything that can be done should be done to ensure that this one-off fixture is remembered for all the right reasons, goes down in history as a classic Scottish sporting occasion and gives Edinburgh something to be very proud of.

Angus McGregor, Albion Road, Edinburgh

More to sort out than potholes

AS I read the main points from political parties’ manifestos for the council elections in your columns, one item jumps out a like sore thumb. Labour, the Lib Dems and the SNP have all discovered that potholes are of major concern.

Just where have they been? The maintenance of Edinburgh’s infrastructure has been a low priority for successive administrations for many years.

In case they aren’t quite sure what the problem is then they should read the Conservative manifestos from previous elections going back many years.

Likewise they only have to look at our budget proposals year after year to get a handle on what we have been proposing.

It’s not just potholes, that is too simplistic.

In the main they only occur on badly maintained roads and pavements.

Get real and commit to raising standards throughout the city, not just repairing potholes.

Councillor Allan Jackson, Conservative transport spokesman, City Chambers

Not fooled by Salmond’s words

ALEX Salmond must think that the people of East Lothian and Midlothian are easily duped (“First Minister backs bus service talks”, News, April 13).

He says he supports recent talks designed to safeguard bus services in East and Midlothian. But his Government’s cuts to the Bus Service Operators Grant and the subisidies paid through the concessionary travel scheme encouraged First to shut up shop in East Lothian and Midlothian.

I hope that the actions of First Bus will encourage all parties to support better regulation of bus services.

Teresa Sharp, Port Seton, East Lothian