Interactive: 'Disneyfication' of Capital is neither needed nor wanted

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CAN someone tell me if the One o'Clock Gun Association has taken over the planning department of Edinburgh, and if they haven't, when do they intend doing so?

First they wanted to put an imitation One o'Clock Gun in the Grassmarket (News, 23 December) when everyone knows where the real thing is – in the castle.

Now they want to light up the statue of Greyfriars Bobby (News, 9 January), what will it be next?

I can't recall these people ever showing any interest in the guns at the castle until recently. They never showed any interest in the gun when the volunteers from 207 Light Air Defence Battery had the duties of firing it every day and on 21-gun salutes for years.

The lighting up of the statue, which is visited every day by tourists who seem to find it with no problems, is again being promoted by an MSP who should know that these issues are not within their remit. Sarah Boyack has nothing to do with the planning of our city and she along with this group appear to be trying to add to the Disneyfication of our city, something it does not need.

Andrew Murphy, Royal Mile, Edinburgh

Time to raise cold weather fuel cash

GIVEN the prolonged cold winter weather it is vital the UK Government increases cold weather fuel payments to pensioners and vulnerable households.

Cold weather and winter fuel payments have not kept pace with the soaring increases in domestic energy bills over recent years. And clearly a combination of the extreme weather, increasing bills and the real difficulties people face because of the recession makes the situation much worse than in previous years.

The current weather is not just been a cold snap, but a sustained period of freezing weather. And for households, many of which are already in fuel poverty, additional support could literally prove a lifesaver.

Alex Orr, Bryson Road, Edinburgh

Taken by surprise despite warnings

SUNDAY morning, and my family and I are relaxing in the house when we hear an engine noise on the path behind our house.

When we looked outside we saw a little tractor going along the paths laying grit! All good and well but I haven't seen any council workers laying grit all week and then they appear on a Sunday morning.

Now I may well be cynical but how have the council managed to get the workers out on a Sunday when they haven't been seen all week?

Could it be that they are getting paid overtime, time and a half or maybe even double time?

The bins in my street weren't collected this week although the lorry did drive round before driving away again. What were the binmen doing instead of collecting the rubbish?

Would it not have made sense for them to have been asked to help clear the streets and paths during the week therefore keeping them busy rather than paying over the odds to have workers out at the weekend when the conditions haven't really changed all week? Surely there should be some sort of severe weather management policy in place for this type of situation – this weather has not taken us by surprise, we were warned it was coming!

Lyn Taylor, East Lothian

Bus drivers keeping up the good work

I'D LIKE to extend a big thank-you to all the bus drivers who are bravely struggling with the icy roads. Certainly the ones I mainly use are managing to keep very accurately to the timetables.

I'd especially like to thank the number 27 bus driver who waited for me one morning as I made my way very slowly to the bus stop, not only saving me a cold wait, but getting me to work on time.

Jennifer D Lowe, Wardie Park, Edinburgh

Thanks for saving my Christmas Day

I WOULD like to thank the council for coming to my rescue on Christmas Day.

An outside drain was blocked causing all the waste water from flats above to fill my bath. I phoned the emergency repair number expecting an answering machine but spoke to a lady who arranged a plumber who came in just over a hour and unblocked the drain.

Eleanor Giubarelli, Northfield, Edinburgh