Letters: It’s Hoy time we gave our city a Games cycle spin-off

But as our greatest Olympian has said before, the real legacy of winning at the apex of sport is how it transforms activity at the grassroots.

So, if five years from now, Edinburgh could be compared with the best European cities in cycling provision, cycle safety and the volume of cycling then that will be a fantastic legacy.

Not only will Edinburgh as a whole be better for it, it will swell the pool from which future Chris Hoys are found.

Gavin Corbett, Green councillor for Fountainbridge / Craiglockhart

Criticism of SNP is sheer hypocrisy

It was with much hilarity that I heard the criticism of the SNP, which according to the Electoral Commission had an income of £5 million last year.

The party has been warned by the opposition parties of the dangers of getting close to “rich and powerful” people.

Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have received donations from such “rich and powerful” people for years.

Earlier this year Mr Cameron released details of 12 Tory donors who had dinner at Downing Street, and five who ate with him at Chequers, as the result of the furore sparked by Conservative co-treasurer Peter Cruddas when he told undercover reporters that a donation of £250,000 or more could secure them an invitation to meet the Prime Minister.

Labour leader Ed Miliband had six meetings with businessman Andrew Rosenfeld, who lent Labour £1m before the 2005 election, and has given £120,000 under his leadership.

It smacks of utter hypocrisy to criticise the SNP for receiving money from so called “rich and powerful” people, when the other parties have been taking money from such sources for decades.

Alex Orr, Leamington Terrace, Edinburgh

Junkies take shine off the Festival

So the Festival with all its wonderful events, sights and sounds has kicked off.

Edinburgh is a truly great city to be in at the moment, despite the council and the tram works.

That aside, can you imagine what all the visitors think when walking through the Grassmarket to encounter two junkies sitting outside the Apex International with the blanket and juice bottles, fags and usual paraphernalia?

Why, oh why, can’t they be dealt with by the authorities and moved on?

Graeme Dunn, Balerno Trams won’t cure lack of direction

On which planet does Chas Dennis live?

As a former shop steward he should be well aware of the thousands of jobs lost in this once beautiful city by the single-line tram project (Letters, August 2).

A city does not need to have a tram line to make it world class. It requires councillors with wisdom and foresight, both of which have been sadly lacking in his party. Unless the trams are frequent, every five minutes and have many convenient stops, the project will be one big white elephant.

Colin C Maclean, Hillpark Avenue, Edinburgh

Weapons deadly in Iranian hands

I find it worrying to read that any sensible thinking person would think an irrationally behaved country such as Iran should have a right to develop nuclear weapons.

As though anyone who is promising to “nuke the neighbours” before they have even fully developed it should not be a cause for concern (Gail Kirkland, Letters, August 1).

Especially when we are next on their hit list. It is also nonsense to consider Iran’s proxy Hamas and the Palestinian Authority as poor and defenceless, when they are supplied with weapons and rockets by Iran.

Even though the Palestinian people struggle, it is because of the corrupt dictatorship of Hamas, and its irrational jihadist attacks, and we should stop giving them double the aid some far needier African countries receive.

It is worrying that some people have such a small world view.

R Oakley, Edinburgh