IN these times of austerity we must all support any attempt by the city council to reduce costs without impacting on essential services.

Anyone who has spent any amount of time in the centre of Edinburgh over the past few years will have noticed the shambolic state of the roads, which appear to be getting closed off and dug up in a way reminiscent of a mole popping up sporadically in a field.

DEVOLUTION is the real choice for a progressive future for Scotland. Since 1997, new elected governments have been established in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, creating a more devolved and richly textured 
democracy.

I WRITE as a former NHS employee of 30 years, in the finance department. The easiest way to achieve savings is to dramatically reduce the amount of managers on exorbitant salaries on all levels.

Most people see the merit of boosting footfall in the city centre and extending the period of that footfall into the evening. That has been the ostensible objective of the “Alive after Five” campaign.

I COULD hardly believe my eyes when I saw the council’s latest idea – plans to extend the tram line to Dalkeith (News, May 10).

AS A very recent heart attack victim, I’d like share my NHS treatment experience and the service I received.

Angus McGregor (Letters, May 9) is correct to say the East Lothian coastline is stunning. He will be pleased to learn that the chimneys of the now redundant Cockenzie coal power station are due to be demolished. As someone who has never known the skyline without them, I will be sad to see them go. But as a Green I’m happy the coal burning has ceased.

councillor NormanWork obviously doesn’t live in the real world (One less drink will pay your taxi home ladies, News, May 8). The black cabs in Edinburgh are already twice the price of Glasgow, and that is not perception but fact.

I constantly read about various clean-ups on the Water of Leith, which I am sure have a significant impact on both the water quality and considerably enhance the environment for the scores of walkers and cyclists who use the much publicised walkway.

It is very disappointing that the idea of an additional ‘party tariff’ has again been raised in discussions about taxi fares in Edinburgh (News, May 2).

I thought it would be helpful to clarify for your readers the legal protections around the Universal Service provided by Royal Mail, and in particular for free post to armed forces undertaking operations.

IT would seem that the natural splendour and serenity of the east end of Princes Street Gardens is being sacrificed for the sake of blatant and tacky profit.

For once I actually agree with Bruce Thompson, underhand tactics should have absolutely no place in the consideration of any planning application (Letters, April 27). How disappointing then, that underhand tactics seem to have been 
employed by Save Stockbridge under his chairmanship.

I was deeply concerned to read of NHS Lothian’s plans to close Liberton Hospital in Edinburgh (News, April 29).

I wrote last year about the arrival of the “money-spinning” giant pandas at Edinburgh Zoo and expressed my opinion that the likelihood of the patter of tiny paws is extremely remote if not impossible.

I was dismayed to read your report highlighting objections to changes at Kirknewton level crossing (News, April 25), ironically printed on the same day two near misses in just three weeks were reported due to level crossing misuse on Scotland’s railways.

Your story regarding possible collusion between Edinburgh City Council and Edinburgh Accies does concern me (News, April 24).

THE decision by Edinburgh City Council to implement a “no-eviction” policy for those council tenants who are unable to pay the bedroom tax is a welcome one (News, April 10).

YOUR article on Friday about the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh being “too middle class”, I believe, misrepresented our visitors. It also misrepresented and possibly offended those who haven’t yet discovered us or choose not to visit.