Gypsy takeover: 'The park and ride is in lockdown'

There is no place in a modern, welcoming Edinburgh for any form of discrimination or prejudice.

And there are few groups as misunderstood or as isolated from the mainstream as are Britain's travelling folk. That can only lead to suspicion - and sometimes worse in terms of the way they are treated.

So it says much for the city council that it was prepared to allow the six-day Light and Life Gypsy Church Convention to go ahead. Trouble marred a similar event in 2004 but a repeat passed off peacefully a year later.

More importantly, when the Evening News asked local residents for their views we found most people relaxed about this year's event, so long as policing is adequate and any mess is sorted out afterwards.

That's the sort of attitude we would expect in Scotland's Capital, a city which, after all, is used to welcoming people of all sorts, races and religions. But the city's response to gypsy visitors will not be helped by the actions of the 45 or so families who have effectively taken over the park and ride facility at Straiton.

The 600 spaces there are supposed to cut congestion and ease the way into the city for commuters in Midlothian and visitors from the West. Instead, the facility is effectively in lockdown.

The council is legally obliged to provide space for travelling folk. Though the only permanent facility is for 20 pitches, around 400 more will be available for the duration of the Convention.

Given those efforts, few will sympathise with those who have decided to effectively requisition a space designed for an entirely different purpose.

The authorities were right to take steps to keep the park and ride for its intended use, and they were right to give the travellers notice to move on.

Labour leader

In the paper today David Miliband explains why he thinks he should be Labour leader.

Elsewhere, city MP Sheila Gilmore says she will recruit 1,000 local activists to help her decide who to back. We can sympathise with her lack of certainty.

Miliband Senior is the bookies' favourite and may, on balance, be the best choice.

But he will inspire neither passion among Labour supporters nor fear in Tory ranks.