Letters: Edinburgh to East Fife rail link should be revived

Arail link exists from the East Coast line into East Fife. The infrastructure is there and has remained since it was closed in 1969.

One only has to be a commuter in a car from Fife to Edinburgh to realise that this line should be re-opened. The horrendous delays on the M90 at peak hours, when you are stuck in traffic jams across the road bridge, would confirm in any driver’s mind that there must be a better way.

Travelling time increases year upon year by road, and the re-opening of the East Fife would alleviate this for commuters into Edinburgh.

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Not only that, but a rail halt could be built on the site of the now demolished Methil Power Plant site with ample car parking directly into Leven.

This site allows not only the working commuter easy access into Edinburgh but would also go some way to helping uplift the housing market and economy in East Fife.

Given that Edinburgh has become increasing anti-car over the last decade, then surely this would benefit everyone concerned, from the commuter to the day-tripper who travels to the Capital for the Fringe, book festival, etc.

History has proven that with the resurgence of people’s needs to commute, not only for employment but also for leisure, the mobility that rail allows us is a positive. For example, the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail link achieved its annual projected passenger numbers within its first quarter.

Are there any reasons to expect that the East Fife - Edinburgh link wouldn’t achieve similar?

KJ Dempsey, address supplied

Some things are more important than money

the recent council approval for the development at Craighouse is in line with current trends.

Concerns of local residents are ignored, conservation issues are trivialised, the economic imperative rules over all other considerations.

We no longer have a planning committee anyway, the official title is the development management sub-committee.

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Of course, economic expansion dominates the political process all around the world.

The global economy is like a madly driven juggernaut, blundering on at ever increasing speeds.

We hit a bump, as in 2008, in response we press down even harder on the economic accelerator. Sanity would entail a slowdown.

It would be a small step toward a new Scottish Enlightenment if our government were to call in a number of recent planning decisions, such as Craighouse, Caltongate and the Edinburgh Accies’ violation of the Inverleith conservation area.

Alan Murphy, Learmonth Grove, Edinburgh

The ‘No’ vote helps entrench inequality

The ‘Yes’ vote was 45 per cent, 55 per cent voted ‘No’ in the referendum.

Of the ‘No’ voters, there would likely be a fair number who voted to stay in the Union, but who want change.

The Westminster government has so far failed to eradicate homelessless, poverty and the deep divisions in Britain and I see no reason why they will do so now.

I am entirely cynical about any attempt on the Unionists’ part to either face or tackle the dreadful anomalies in Scotland or any other part of the UK.

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I await Cameron, Clegg or Brown proving otherwise. If they fail, then another referendum cannot come round quickly enough.

The UK is very unfair.

Trevor Swistchew, Victor Park Terrace, Edinburgh

Women face brunt of welfare cuts in Scotland

The ‘No’ vote means women in Scotland are facing a precarious financial future, as figues show they face the brunt of coalition welfare cuts.

It is revealed that two thirds of the £4billion welfare cuts coming to Scotland over the next two years will fall disproportionately on women, as they are more likely to rely on state help through the likes of pensions and tax credits. They will bear the brunt of 69 per cent of welfare cuts, or just under £2.8billion by 2016.

The Westminster government has an appalling record when it comes to treatment of women, and thanks to the ‘No’ vote it won’t end there.

James Hill, Stenhouse Avenue, Edinburgh

SNP government must keep its promises too

WHILE we in Scotland are demanding that Westminster honours its promises to give us more powers of autonomy, we should not forget the broken promises and U-turns that concern the SNP while they have been in office.

The Deputy First Mnister Nicola Sturgeon has promised to introduce welfare reforms, but in what form and when will they come?

Building popular support for a welfare reform policy requires fair treatment, both for those who are receiving benefits and those who are not, so it will require a very clear and convincing welfare agenda, which has not come from the SNP since they have been in office, and that includes our NHS.

Chas Dennis, Niddrie Marischal Road, Edinburgh

Can you help a Scots accordion music fan?

CAN any of your readers help by sending me any spare or unwanted cassette tapes or CDs of Scottish accordion dance band music?

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I have a great respect for Scotland and its wonderful music and would be most grateful and appreciative of any help as I am a senior citizen and any recordings will bring me much enjoyment and pleasure.

Mr G Dickinson, 5 Quarry Brow,

Barrow in Furness, LA14 4HY