Festival fun can be a blast for less cash

When tickets for a stand-up comedian cost 37.50 it illustrates how far today's festival has forgotten its roots. Gone are the days when Brian or anyone else could go from one show to another and still have change left to meet up for a pint or two with his mates.

The Edinburgh Festival seems to have forgotten where it came from. When established in the 1940s it was envisaged as celebration of the arts "for the people, by the people". Now profit has taken over, ticket prices are far too high and promoters are making a fortune.

To me, too much of the Festival is geared up for an international niche tourist market and forgets those who live in the city. For these reasons virtually none of the shows take place outside four or five city centre cramped and uncomfortable mega-venues.

It was for these reasons the Edinburgh People's Festival reappeared after 50 years. Now it is sixth year, reborn from the 1950s original, the Edinburgh People's Festival believes in the original premise. This year we will again present a variety of attractions which are either free or cost just 2. They take place in Leith, Gorgie, Saughton, St Leonards and even Dalkeith. We will present a Rebus walking tour which will include the very first readings from Ian Rankin's as yet unpublished, final novel of the series. There is also "A Night Out" in Saughton Jail, followed by a flighting, feisty debate on whether Scotland would be artistically, culturally and politically better off under independence and a comedy night in Gorgie with four of the best acts in town for just 2. And for our grand finale we stage the world premiere of "Marilyn Painted Pictures", a drama written by brilliant local playwright Celia Grainger.

Details of the People's Festival performances are listed on our website at edinburghpeoplesfestival.org.uk and it's possible to take in the whole festival for the princely sum of 4 which won't take a toll on anyone's finances.

Colin Fox, Chair, Edinburgh People's Festival, Alloway Loan, Edinburgh

Bridge work leaves large financial gap

MONDAY'S Evening News had the ex-convener of the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) complaining about waste and the 2 million cost of demolishing the new tolls "plaza" on the road bridge. He said that when he took over as convener of FETA in July 2005, there was "no doubt in my mind" that the Scottish Executive wished some form of tolling to continue.

I wonder why he was so sure. The Executive announced the first of their tolled bridge reviews back in 2003, and the first consultations took place in 2004. In any case, under the then law the tolls on the Forth bridge were due to end by March 2006.

Despite this, in October 2004 FETA decided to contract for a new tolls plaza. A plaza which nearly three years later and after spending 8.5m and (not the 5m pounds quoted) is still not fully working.

Not only the bridge users may think that the waste was spending the initial outlay, not the 2m which it is said it will cost to remove this monstrosity.

Tom Minogue, Scottish spokesman, NAAT, Victoria Terrace, Dunfermline

Citizens should consider a strike

BY far the largest numbers of letters you have published on the trams debate have come from citizens who either fail to see the need for trams, or fail to see why they should have to pay for them. I believe that this fairly represents the views of the city residents.

The business entities - the principal beneficiaries - have failed to come up with the financial support to complete the project, and appear determined to sit back and profiteer by leaving the shortfall to be met by taxpayers.

The SNP-led parliament could bail us out, but has declined to do so: a cynical attempt, I suggest, to benefit from a protest vote at the next council election (it worked last time, so why not the next?) to generate an SNP-led city council.

That leaves Joe and Jill Citizen to foot the bill, unless the worm finally turns and we back a council tax and rent strike when the bill comes in, to exactly that proportion of our bills which represents the tram project overspend (it worked for the poll tax, so why not here?).

We could also ask the council to publish a list of those businesses which failed to contribute proportionately to the overspend, and actively promote a boycott of their products and services. Bring it on!

David Fiddimore, Nether Craigwell, Calton Road, Edinburgh

Finish job before ticket machines

SO Lothian Buses have jumped the gun by putting up the ticket machines for the trams that, it seems, most people do not want (Evening News, July 31). Those of us who catch buses at Morningside station are wondering when they are going to finish the job of connecting the bus arrival times here.

Some months ago they put up the poles. Later, they dug up the pavement by these poles. Yet, on neither side of the road have they finished the job by putting the indicator part on top.

They have completed them at less busy stops up the road.Why not those at the busiest stops? Surely these should come before tram ticket machines

Mary Nisbet, Belhaven Place, Edinburgh

18 weeks should be hearing aid aim

WAITING times for hearing aids may have dropped but 43 weeks is still unnecessarily long for people to wait for a hearing aid (Waiting list times for hearing aids drop by third, Evening News, July 30).

RNID Scotland believes no-one should wait more than 18 weeks for this inexpensive but essential piece of equipment, that can transform people's everyday lives and re-connect them to friends, family and colleagues.

The Scottish Executive must publish full waiting times so we can see the true extent of the problem across the country, and set an 18-week target for hearing aid fittings, in line with other NHS services.

Delia Henry, Director, RNID Scotland

SNP too quiet on its sports stance

THROUGHOUT the debate on Meadowbank I have been constant in my belief that Edinburgh has a duty to provide 21st century standard sports facilities, befitting of Scotland's capital city.

While I hope that Glasgow will develop excellent sports facilities as part of a winning Commonwealth Games bid, Edinburgh cannot be left behind.

I am therefore pleased, and somewhat surprised that Lib Dem council leader Jenny Dawe has now indicated that she will sanction the development of top-class sporting facilities in the city, just one month after Lib Dem planning chief Jim Lowrie described the project as "dead in the water" and "a white elephant".

However, in spite of the Liberal Democrats' contradictions and U-turns, questions remain over the views of the SNP group on Edinburgh City Council, who have been strangely silent on the issue.

It remains to be seen if this Liberal/SNP coalition agree on any of the major issues facing the city, and I look forward to them making their position clear in the days and weeks ahead.

Councillor Paul Godzik, Labour Spokesperson for Leisure, Culture & Sport, The City Chambers, Edinburgh

Carbon claim is just a lot of hot air

HELEN MARTIN is mistaken in believing that the amount of carbon dioxide produced by her patio heater is less than that produced by the use of various household electrical appliances (Chilly reception for heater turn off, Evening News, July 30).

In fact, most of the electricity consumed in Edinburgh comes from Torness nuclear power station, which produces no CO2.

Steuart Campbell, Dovecot Loan, Edinburgh