'Dirty' city - 'High ranking is connected to prosperity'

MOST people will be surprised to see Edinburgh ranked as one of the UK's "dirtiest" major cities when it comes to carbon emissions.

After all, the Capital seems far from a polluted place to walk around, we have some of the highest rates of public transport use in the UK and city firms are pioneers of green technology.

And having voted in a Green MSP in Robin Harper no-one can saw we don't care about the environment.

Mr Harper is no doubt right to point out today the unintended consequences of our supermarket shopping and other lifestyle choices.

But it is also worth noting the main reason behind some parts of the country seeing a drop in carbon emissions last year.

The "improved" performance in places like Warrington and Newport is not down to some great green initiative but the impact of the recession.

Large numbers of people not travelling, working and shopping like they used to, because many of them are on the dole.

Our high ranking in this pollution league table is undoubtedly connected at least in part to our prosperity.

We should strive to reduce our carbon footprint, but not by sacrificing the livelihoods of our citizens.

Back to schools

THERE is only one surprising thing about today's call from headteachers for city secondaries to be closed down - and that is that no-one else has said so first.

Their argument is as simple and persuasive as it was when they put it forward at this time last year.

They believe that slashing 3 million from individual school budgets will ultimately damage the education of children across the Capital and it would be far better instead to close a school or two where half the classrooms currently sit empty. No-one is in a better position than them to make that judgement.

The idea is never going to be popular in the communities that stand to lose out under such a rationalisation programme, and understandably so.

But it is vital on an issue as important as this to take into account the best interests of all pupils right across the Capital.

When the Lib Dem-SNP coalition pledged last summer that there would be no more schools closures before next year's local council elections, it may have been popular, but it now looks unwise.