Letters: Capital's education chief has plenty she's proud of

We have not reduced learning assistants, nursery teachers are not being phased out and we continue to be one of the few authorities in Scotland to offer free music tuition to all schools.

Two small and expensive nurseries have indeed been closed.

The alternative neighbouring nurseries offer a high standard of care and education and have ample capacity.

The money saved, both capital and revenue, will be ploughed back into the early years service, including new provision at Royal Mile Primary School.

Furthermore, we have already built two new nurseries from some of the money gained from primary school closures.

Indeed, by comparison with many other education authorities in Scotland, we have robustly protected front-line services for children and young people within our budget.

We have dealt with the 18 million deficit in the children and families department inherited from the previous Labour administration and balanced the books.

We can also claim that despite the difficult financial situation, young people's attainment improves year on year and there has been a regular reduction in truancy and exclusions.

In a Curriculum for Excellence, we are at the forefront of implementation and there is some fantastic work ongoing in our schools.

Our emphasis on early years is lauded by academics and we are an exemplar in new school design and parental, pupil and teacher involvement in that process.

Our new Portobello, James Gillespie's and Boroughmuir high schools will be trailblazers in educational vision.

I could go on to say that in the most difficult of financial times, we continue to have an education, children and families service of which we can be proud.

Councillor Marilyne MacLaren, convener, education, children and families, Edinburgh City Council

Time must be up for city's fathers

it is an unfortunate fact of life that Edinburgh has been run by fools since 1989 when Labour came to power and cancelled the Western Relief Road at great expense to the taxpayer.

Then the recent fiascos of the toll charges, closure of city centre streets and finally the biggest white elephant of all, the tram project.

But the biggest waste of money, even though it is minuscule in cost compared to those failed projects, is a party for new traffic lights in Fountainbridge.

For a start, the roundabout worked fine and lights were not needed there. Have this bunch of nitwits running the city finally lost the plot.

If it wasn't so sad, it would be laughable.

What next? Parties for new street lights and bollards?

It really is time for this council to resign and the people of Edinburgh should think hard about who they elect to get this city back on track.

V Radzynski, Colinton Mains Drive, Edinburgh

Applauding work on park railings

I WRITE to openly congratulate our parks department for its excellent work in replacing the railings that surround the Union Park in Carrick Knowe.

The work is not yet complete and I don't know whether the council is tackling the work itself or has contracted it out, but the standard of workmanship is remarkably good.

Arrow straight and perfectly level.

In these modern times, our council takes a daily bashing in these pages (often from myself) but on this occasion they can hold their heads high. Well done.

Norrie Henderson, Corstorphine

Always consider the alternative

Hands up those wanting a nuclear plant in Leith instead of a Biomass plant . . .

That will be nobody then.

Dannie Murdoch, Camus Avenue, Edinburgh