Sad end to city’s manufacturing past - your views

"Replacing industry with huge housing developments that no local people can afford is appalling”

Sad end to city’s manufacturing past

During a rare visit to the Gyle Centre I was dismayed to note the sale of the Saica packaging factory (formerly Reeds) which is yet another Edinburgh industry re-locating to Livingston.

I grew up when within the city boundaries there were coal mines; trawler fleets; ship building; rubber production; world-famous breweries and print works; food processing firms and mighty engineering and foundry companies, such as Bruce Peebles.

There were many others, employing thousands, and with medical, hospitality and commercial activities, Edinburgh’s mixed economy was its strength.

The loss of another manufacturing company is a serious blow to the city and we have yet to see the fall-out from Covid-19.

Replacing industry with huge housing developments that no local people can afford is appalling, as is the compliance of our local and national politicians.

No other city or town in the UK would stand back and say nothing when citizens’ jobs and future opportunities for our youngsters are turned over to property speculators. Who will be next?

David Speed, Stair Park, Edinburgh

Cheap and simple way to fix potholes

Further to Fiona Duff (‘Never mind yellow lines, fill in the potholes’, News, February 11).

At JCB we have recently unveiled the PotholePro - a machine that can fill a pothole in eight minutes for half the cost of traditional methods. Not only do our repairs stand the test of time, they will save councils millions of pounds in compensation claims and short-term fixes.

The PotholePro gets to the root of the problem in the same way a dentist repairs a tooth cavity; the hole in your tooth isn’t just filled immediately, it is cleared of all decay so a firm foundation can be laid for the filling.

Our machine does the same, cutting and cropping around the existing problem and cleaning forensically before it is filled - four times quicker and half the price of traditional methods.

JCB would be delighted to offer a free trial to the City of Edinburgh Council to demonstrate the impact our PotholePro could have on the region’s roads. Potholes are the scourge of Britain’s roads but tackling the same problem with the same solution isn’t working.

We recognise that councils and contractors are faced with an ever growing backlog, especially now in the winter months. However, the organisations we have worked with across the UK have found opting for a long-term repair over ‘quick fixes’ is most definitely the way forward.

Paul Murray, Product director, JCB.

Scottish election should be delayed

I received my notification that the Scottish elections are on the first week in May. I am somewhat confused. The First Minister is still informing us that we must stay at home in fear of Covid.

That is essential and I understand why the lock-down is in place. However, how do we stay at home to prevent the spread of Covid 19 and go out to the polling stations to vote if the lockdown is still in force?

One answer may be a postal vote. But I still wish to carry out my democratic right of the practice of going to a polling station to cast my vote. The postal vote should not be the only way to enable us to cast our vote.

Would it not be safer to stay safe in our houses until the whole population has been vaccinated before we venture out and expose ourselves to the virus which is still with us?

Not everyone has been vaccinated. Can we not be safe rather than sorry and delay the May elections?

Valerie Stewart, East Kilbride.