Letters: Let's hope Tattoo's pipes blow for another 60 years

Published on Wednesday 25 August 2010 13:43

NOW the Festival is approaching its finale, a special mention and congratulations have to go to the Tattoo for reaching its 60th anniversary.

There is no denying the enduring popularity of this unique and spectacular event, but if this popularity is to maintained for the foreseeable future you do get the distinct impression that with the ever-changing and evolving global market Edinburgh will have to compete all the more vigorously for its share of the tourist trade whilst at the same time being promoted in a modern and dynamic sense.

I fear this may prove to be rather difficult in view of the shambolic way the city is being run, the trams project being the obvious example, but hope the Tattoo and the Festival/Fringe have at least another glorious 60 years to look forward to.

Angus McGregor, Albion Road, Edinburgh

Show reveals a different side

HAVING read Rosemary Baratta's letter "Cardinal owes an apology to US" (Interactive, August 4) I feel I must reply.

A show running at the Edinburgh Festival, Lockerbie: Unfinished Business, is based on the investigations of a broken- hearted father, Dr Jim Swire, looking for justice for the loss of his beloved daughter. Here we have an intelligent man who has left no stone unturned in his quest for the truth, and quite frankly some of the revelations are startling.

His belief is Megrahi is innocent and was only a bargaining chip in the cover-up.

After having sat and listened to the evidence Dr Swire uncovered, most people in the theatre leave with a different view on both our establishment and that of the United States.

Colin Cassidy, Dalkeith

Don't stand in way of flagship

READING the article "Primark faces 150k tram tax" (News, August 21), I became incensed. I am one of Primark's biggest fans.

It would appear Edinburgh City Council has put every obstacle in the retailer's way against opening up in the Capital.

As if charging 290,000 for "air rights" wasn't enough, the council also wants to charge Primark, which will not be trading till at least August 2011, 150,000 "tram tax".

This is one of the biggest local authority shambles of my lifetime. A lot of Edinburgh people have long awaited the opening of Primark.

I think it would be a massive loss to Edinburgh not to have Primark here. A flagship store of this type would be a great benefit to Princes Street.

Primark should not pay this ludicrous charge.

Dolores M Dangel, St Leonard's Bank, Edinburgh

Seeking best deal for EICC project

I REFER to your article "Council under fire over EICC apprentices" (News, August 23), in which you report that, in response to a question by Cllr Aitken, I "admitted that a deal had not been struck" with the contractor regarding apprenticeships. This was not the case. Instead, I had responded to the effect that, while I was unaware of such a deal, I would check on the councillor's behalf.

I have now had confirmed that a Community Benefit Clause has been written into the contract with Sir Robert MacAlpine. The contractor has committed to recruiting at least 18 apprentices from Edinburgh and to providing them with the appropriate experience and levels of supervision to ensure that they can successfully complete their training programme.

This meets with the council's objectives of ten per cent of the workforce being "new entrants", as outlined in the Edinburgh City Job Strategy, Joined Up for Jobs. In total, Sir Robert MacAlpine will provide at least 198 training and employment opportunities, these being made up of the 18 new entrant opportunities, plus 131 trade skills opportunities and 49 other training opportunities.

The EICC expansion is indeed a major project and the council has acted promptly and pro- actively to secure a good deal for the city.

Cllr Jenny Dawe, leader, Edinburgh City Council