Letters: Bog-awful Meadows loos would be an insult to pigs

TO celebrate my daughter's birthday, our family gathered at the Meadows. It was a glorious day and thousands agreed that it was a day to enjoy the sunshine and facilities of the Meadows.

After an hour on the magnificent play park, my five-year-old grandson requested a visit to the public toilet.

However, having visited the Meadows before, he informed me he would use the ladies' toilet. He informed me that the gents' toilet was smelly. Wise words indeed.

The gents' toilet should have been closed as a health risk. It would be an insult to pigs to say it was only fit for our porcine cousins.

I wondered as I escaped the cesspit if any of our esteemed councillors had frequented this facility.

I also wondered what the many tourists would make of the contrast between the splendid play facilities and the appalling public toilets.

Stewart J Lowe, Dudley Avenue, Edinburgh

Parking plan led by dictatorship

Last month, you published an article about the new parking scheme being proposed for South Morningside (News, June 8).

The council is trying to extend a form of controlled parking - called "Priority Parking" - into areas where it is not needed and not wanted.

It still involves "traffic wardens", 60 parking tickets, wheel clamping, vehicle removal and impounding. Although this "service" would no doubt be provided very attentively, it is mostly unwanted and completely unwarranted.

The council's Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee conducted a recent "consultation" in Newington, where, despite 97 per cent of residents objecting to the proposed parking scheme, it was imposed upon them.

This makes a complete mockery of democracy. We expect the planned "consultation" to be above board, open to public scrutiny and subject to clearly-defined methods by which residents can express their views so that the majority is reflected in the results. Moreover, we expect the majority view to be acted upon.

Andrew HN Gray, Craiglea Drive, Edinburgh

Bus pram ban is baby health risk

LAST week, my wife and I took our six-week old baby to the doctor at Cramond.

When we boarded a number 21 bus at the foot of our street, the driver refused to let us on because we had a four-in-one pram system.

We explained we were only going to Davidson's Mains to get a connection bus (which we missed because the driver did not want to listen). The bus was empty at that time of morning.

Later in the day we went into town, but when we wished to go home three different Lothian bus drivers refused to let us board because we had a baby in a travel system. In the end we had to get a taxi home.

I have since spoken with Lothian Buses, which stated prams, pushchairs were not permitted on their buses, only allowing foldable buggies, which are not suitable for a newborn.

As new parents, Lothian Buses are not allowing us to use their transport.

I ask this, though, how do we take our infants to future hospital appointments or to see health visitors if they will not let you on their buses?

Marc Jury, Easter Drylaw Drive, Edinburgh

Treasure trove was plundered

We're told that many of the artefacts at the new National Museum were gifted by Edinburgh citizens. I wonder where these Edinburgh citizens got these treasures - and how!

It couldn't possibly be part of the treasure trove plundered by generations of Edinburgh citizens who wandered the globe - with a handy gunboat at the ready to deal with any recalcitrant natives - exploiting and stealing the people/land/treasures of foreign countries in that great colonial 'adventure' known as the British Empire, could it?

Shame on Edinburgh and this 'new' museum! Give back the stolen treasures to the peoples they belong to or, if they're kept, attach a label saying "stolen from its rightful owners by Scottish thieves".

John McInnes, Glasgow