Sean's spot on in critical comments about Edinburgh

Published on Monday 25 August 2008 09:18

UNSURPRISINGLY, but depressingly, the ghost tours, Historic Scotland and an ex-council leader queued up to rubbish comments by Sir Sean Connery that they perceive to be critical of their performances (Evening News, August 22).

It seems to me whenever he is critical of an attitude or institution of his old home, the local lemmings leap up and down crying out that his views are completely irrelevant because he hasn't been a permanent resident for fifty years.

A complete contrast of course to the response to anything complimentary he says.

I'm sure that many of your readers won't disagree with his concerns;

&#149 Agreeing that the "dark tourism" walking tours are dire – those I have joined have been pitched at the Big Brother level of both history and entertainment.

&#149 That one of the managers can claim that their "guides" all have history degrees makes for scary reading - and maybe sounds the death knell of historical scholarship in Scotland.

&#149 The Royal Mile has been "tattified" beyond belief in recent years.

&#149 Planning decisions which place Edinburgh's World Heritage status in question are almost certainly wrong...just that risk alone suggests that the Caltongate application must be called in and reviewed by the Scottish Government.

&#149 Historic Scotland is principally a commercial tourism business, not a conservation body.

&#149 Roads of historic setts are being tarred over, or replaced with pre cast blocks of pseudo-setts, because that is cheaper than maintaining them – I met a senior council roads officer at one of the Caltongate meetings who offered "If I had my way I'd tar the lot over" – and I expect that he will get his wish one day.

Sir Sean should be entitled to be speak up for, the real Sir Sean – not the Sir Sean others want him to be. Not living permanently among us probably enables him to look at the Capital with a clearer, analytical eye than we who do.

David Fiddimore, Calton Road, Edinburgh

Councillors not fit to protect heritage

FOR years our councillors have said the people of the Old Town had nothing to worry about while they were looking after it. They also said that they were listening to the people of Edinburgh.

Now we have a report from Unesco telling the council to stop all major development in the old town area until their investigation into Edinburgh's world heritage status is completed. This is so that they can decide if Edinburgh should hold on to its world heritage status. It's quite clear from this report that we have a council that has not listened to anyone when it comes to planning requests – especially the people living in the Old Town.

They have ignored everything that the people have said to them and barged ahead with their own ideas and plans to turn the Old Town into a theme park style city.

It's now time for our councillors to made accountable to the people of Edinburgh and removed from office as soon as possible. They can't be trusted to look after our heritage and they can't be allowed to ruin our city any more.

Andrew Murphy, Bailie Fyfe's Close, High Street, Royal Mile, Edinburgh

Blow down wind power obstacles

THE shelving of plans to subsidise renewable energy schemes in the Scottish islands by the Westminster Government beggars belief, and clearly casts doubt on the commitment of UK Ministers to carbon reduction.

The changes mean that green energy schemes in Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles face the prospect crippling transmission charges and instead of encouraging green energy projects, the UK Government seems intent on undermining them.

Scotland has the potential to be the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy, but time and again obstacles are put in the way.

The UK Government should reverse this ridiculous decision to assist in the future developments of wind, wave and tidal power.

Gordon Brown claims to be serious about carbon reduction – now is the time to prove it and stop Ofgem imposing these ludicrous and discriminatory charges on the Scottish renewable industry.

Alex Orr, Bryson Road, Edinburgh

Tell us how to send parcels down a wire

THE manager of Post Office Ltd development states that there is less need for post offices with the internet and modern technology.

Is she expecting OAPs to go out and buy computers? Can she, or any MP, explain how parcels and packages are sent down a wire?

Aren't these closures an infringement on our rights to shop where we wish and trade where we wish? Why hasn't this closure policy been taken to the European Court of Human Rights?

CJR Fentiman, Polwarth Gardens, Edinburgh

The long drive to find cheaper petrol

CAN anyone tell me why the price of petrol at the Shell, Esso and Sainsbury petrol stations at Craigleith is 3p cheaper than the petrol sold by Morrisons at the Gyle and the Shell stations on Glasgow Road and at the Maybury?

Why do I have to travel across the city to get cheaper petrol?

It would be good if the News could publish the names of the city petrol stations with the lowest prices.

Anne McKillop, North Gyle Terrace, Edinburgh