Edinburgh Evening News letters: Flood of issues to consider over water treatment plans

I think this site is the second largest area of open water in Edinburgh after Duddingston Loch. The regular visits to this site of flocks of 30-plus lapwings, which both roost and feed here, should ring warning bells about nature conservation at the national level.

How many roosts are there for these rare birds in and around Edinburgh? In summer the waters also appear very important to feeding swallows, swifts and martins.

I note there are no sites proposed for housing in Liberton in the council’s current planning consultation report.

With pound signs flashing in Scottish Water’s eyes, it is not likely that adding the site to the “country park” at Mortonhall is likely, but at the public consultation event, no answer was provided as to how our water supply would be guaranteed if there were a major incident affecting the new plant at Glencorse.

Mike Brown, Hawkhead Crescent, Liberton

We must plan for cabinet clean-up

You can ask the city to clean graffiti (News, January 25), but don’t ask for telecommunications cabinets to be cleaned. The council won’t do that in case the cleaning causes damage and they are sued.

Meanwhile, the owners of these cabinets won’t devote any funds to the cleaning. Planning permission for these cabinets should be granted on condition they are kept graffiti-free.

Steuart Campbell, Dovecot Loan, Edinburgh

Air duty rise too taxing on families

Chancellor George Osborne will be rubbing his hands at Alex Salmond’s bid to open direct flights between Scotland and China. More victims for the sky tax.

It will be extremely disappointing and damaging for Scotland when the UK Treasury hikes up air passenger duty next month, after that all pretence about it being a green tax.

If so, holidays abroad will be put beyond the means of many families and airlines will reduce investment.

However, why is the UK Treasury granting concessions to Northern Ireland and yet denying the same to Scotland? Is this a consequence of Scotland’s move towards independence?

This discriminatory action is more likely to drive people towards a break-up rather than preserve the Union.

It won’t be the first time Scotland has got a raw deal from Westminster and it won’t be the last.

J Hill, Stenhouse Avenue, Edinburgh

Any memories of BBC TV switch-on?

Not only is February 6 the day of the Queen’s accession to the throne, but it is also the day, 60 years ago, when the BBC started television transmissions from Kirk o’ Shotts transmitting station.

I wonder how many of the electricians who worked on the site remember the event.

C J R Fentiman, Polwarth Gardens, Edinburgh