Letters: ‘Chippy’ rings refusal has put Salmond plans on track

ARE we really now so parochial, insular and small-minded that we are unable to participate in the celebration of the Olympic Games taking place in the UK for the first time in 64 years because they are based mainly in London?

I wonder if these same voices would be angry and loudly vocal in their complaints if this temporary Olympic emblem was offered to every other major city and not Edinburgh.

As a proud and mature nation, why do we have to be so “chippy” and not welcome a part of the celebration of this wonderful world festival of sport, which is unlikely to return to these islands again in our lifetime?

This inward-looking attitude is condemning Scotland to not even second-class, but third-class football and sport, and second-class TV, both BBC and STV.

There is something sad, unpleasant and sinister about the tone of the SNP campaign for independence.

Alex Salmond must be laughing all the way to his referendum, his plan is working beautifully.

By the time the referendum is finally called, the rest of the UK will be happy to see us leave.

Anne Browne, London Street, Edinburgh

Olympic symbol plan is insulting

WE certainly should “Say No to Coe” as your editorial suggests (News, November 16).

The plan to stick giant Olympic rings on the north face of Edinburgh Castle for four months next year is plain daft.

Edinburgh is a major city and tourist centre and the north face of the Castle, as seen from Princes Street, is its most iconic view.

The last time Edinburgh suffered such an insult was when buses trundled around the city bearing the slogan “Glasgow’s miles better”.

It is just a pity that we didn’t have a “Say No to Coe” campaign before London won the right to stage the 2012 Olympics. The country would be almost £10 billion richer if we had.

While it is too late to stop that squander-fest, there is still time for our MPs to stop the wasting of £30 billion on the HS2 railway from London to Birmingham.

Also, it is way past time they stopped the Chancellor throwing further billions in to “saving” the Euro.

Indeed, if we must stick something big and ugly on the face of the Castle, then make it this: “£150,000,000,000” – the British government’s annual deficit.

At least it would get people thinking.

Otto Inglis, Inveralmond Grove, Edinburgh

We’re keeping lid on Napier noise

Your report on loud Edinburgh Napier students at West Brydon Road (Talk of the Town, News, November 16) failed to acknowledge the range of improvements the university has made in managing that residence and others.

These include changing our allocation policy to ensure a far higher percentage of older, more mature students at each site, and the employment of our own guards supplemented by a contracted-out service to proactively stop incidents before they get out of hand.

We have also installed new CCTV cameras at West Bryson Road to identify those responsible for antisocial behaviour, as well as window restrictors to avoid noise travelling from open windows.

Other measures have included implementing a much more rigorous induction process for students living in the flats.

This has made a significant difference, and has resulted in very few official complaints about antisocial behaviour at these residences over the last nine months.

Helen Crocker, head of student accommodation, Edinburgh Napier University

Sighthill has been going unnoticed

KIRSTEN Hey may be fortunate enough to report her complaints and that they are adhered to (Reward high standard of work with job security, Interactive, November 15).

I live in the Sighthill area and our streets are a disgrace, regardless of complaining – streets need upgrading, and pavements too.

Rubbish, dog dirt and cigarettes are lying around – no-one cares. Some areas have been upgraded, but not Sighthill Drive.

Fiona Brown, Sighthill Drive, Edinburgh