Letters: Capital's weather-beaten waste collection just stinks

For the third week running my family and I have had to empty our bins, double up the bags, pack them all into our family car, and take our domestic rubbish to the tip ourselves.

This took around two hours out of our holiday time.

We have had no collections from outside our home for three weeks, yet we have witnessed a refuse vehicle passing our house on three separate occasions.

Furthermore, when we arrived at the council civic site, no council employees offered us any assistance or guidance.

Instead two men wearing yellow jackets appeared to be more interested in collecting what could only be described as scrap metal from some of the waste metal skips and putting it aside.

Meanwhile, one other man was spending his time looking through some old video tapes he had discovered.

If possible, can someone from the city council give us an explanation other than "we have experienced weeks of bad weather"?

We pay our council tax and feel we deserve a better explanation.

In my opinion this is very poor service and communication.

DR Borwick, Wester Broom Avenue, Edinburgh

Shifting the snow beats dodgy wars

IN reply to Dougie Hallwood (Interactive, December 11), I would say our "brave soldiers" would be better off clearing snow than fighting illegal wars for corrupt and lying governments – wars that ruin the lives of innocent civilians who never asked to be invaded, and that fan the flames of extremism and terrorism which ends up coming back on us all.

Clearing snow is a better result for everyone, soldiers included.

Considering our politicians have got us into a situation where there are 500,000 jobs being chased by 2,000,000 unemployed, Mr Hallwood is wrong to say the unemployed get everything for nothing and give nothing back. Can Mr Hallwood please demonstrate how two million fits into half a million?

Each and every one of us tax payers pays a huge amount towards our armed forces, so it was good to see them giving something back to us.

Vincent Riordan, Easter Road, Edinburgh

Seasonal driving tests is right road

DURING my time as a driver/inspector with Edinburgh Corporation Transport/Lothian Buses (25 years) I have witnessed many incidents concerning all kinds of traffic.

Winter time is a farce with so many private vehicles in ludicrous situations.

As we all know, snow and icy conditions are beyond the driving ability of many motorists. This year's conditions on the roads following last winter leave me at a loss as to why the present driving test has never been split into two parts – a summer test and a winter test (with simulated or genuine conditions).

It might not solve all our winter problems, but it would give some drivers a better idea of how to get to grips with winter conditions instead of abandoning their vehicles.

Tom Lee, Loganlea Drive, Edinburgh

Cuts could start with expenses

IF the council has to make cuts to save money, why do they not look at their own expenses?

All the claims they are making for bus fares, meals, and taxis should come out of their own pockets. Nobody asked them to put their names forward to become a councillor. Their job should be the same as all the other people who have a job but cannot claim for bus fares, taxis or meals. Councillors are doing a job serving the city, so they should show an example.

As for the great hike in burial fees (News, December 14), people should be made aware by the council as to what the Scottish Government are up to regarding changes they are planning to make.

I have written to Jenny Dawe before about looking at the councillors' expenses but it is obvious that she is not looking at such an idea.

Jane Black, Edinburgh