Interactive: City struggling to keep head above water with Leith plans

How can city councillors justify closing schools and much needed community facilities that play a vital part in city life and wellbeing and yet be seen to find the monies to continue with the endless money pit – the city tram project – and now borrow a mere 84m to help out a private company's development at the Waterfront?

Why should city taxpayers help fund Forth Ports with their Waterfront development, whilst the city council owns 120 acres of Waterfront land at Granton?

Surely if Councillor Dawe wants to help kick-start further investment into the Waterfront economy it should be for the benefit of the City of Edinburgh and the people of the city, and not Forth Ports and its shareholders.

If council leader Dawe believes in borrowing 84m using the "tax incremental financing" scheme and hopes that businesses and developers will invest in the Waterfront, she, along with the city council, must use this chance to bring forward regeneration development on the land that the city owns at Granton's Waterfront.

Kick-starting council-owned Edinburgh Waterfront development would also encourage private investors to go on board with Forth Ports development, so not depending on public funds.

Lawrence Dinse, Crewe Road North, Edinburgh

Council care tender flawed from start

THE decision of Edinburgh's Liberal Democrat/SNP administration to sell the care and support of our most vulnerable citizens to the lowest bidder was flawed from day one. These are simply not the kind of services to be subject to this sort of market approach.

Service users have built up relationships with their carers, often over many years, and are confident and settled into these relationships, to the peace of mind of their families and friends. The decision to invite tenders for these services threatened to undermine this level of care and trust.

That Paul Edie described our move to take the decision to a meeting of the whole council as a "student prank" says much for his lack of understanding of what was going on.

Our "student prank" has uncovered serious problems in the tender process, which have brought it to a dramatic halt.

Edinburgh City Council now has an opportunity to redeem its damaged reputation, not only with its citizens but also nationally.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Labour spokesperson on health and social care

No tears shed by Brown in interview

REGARDING Mrs De Luca's letter (News, 17 February), I watched Gordon Brown's interview with Piers Morgan with interest to see just how this very public figure, yet very private man, handled the extremely emotive subject of the death of his first-born baby.

I saw no tears. I saw a father. A man who had, only ten days previously to the death of his tiny daughter, been ecstatic when announcing the birth. The nation saw the soft side of Gordon Brown and he was praised rather than castigated for this.

During this interview, Mr Brown wriggled on a few of Piers Morgan's probing hooks and gave an excellent account of himself. The camera focused on Sarah Brown regularly and the love for her husband was evident in her eyes, a bit moist at times, and her smile.

No doubt they shed copious tears when Jennifer died, have done so since, and will again. But during that interview, I saw no tears.

Mrs Violet Donnelly, Echline Terrace, South Queensferry

The lack of a bus service is not fare

THE people of the east side of the Magdelene, Christians and Milton Road have no straight service to Portobello as Lothian Buses have taken the number 69 off.

The bus only goes from Duddingston crossroads to Portobello. The people now have to get two buses which is not very convenient as some are not very good at walking. Could they not have made the terminus Brunstane?

PA Turner, Milton Road, Edinburgh