Letters: City will never be overnight success by putting off hotels

I found myself wondering if this was a News April Fool, although there was none of the harmless humour common to such fibs.

Someone should wake our council up and inform them that in a recession we should encourage businesses to come to the city, not place obstacles in their way.

Mr K Welsh, Easter Road, Edinburgh

Postal service far from first class

WITH the huge increase in online shopping and the number of people who are out working all day it amazes me that the Post Office has changed my delivery depot to The Gyle from Russell Road making me reliant on using a car (pollution) to pick up undelivered parcels.

The alternative of getting the items sent to my local post office was negated by them closing Shandon PO. Having tried the option of getting redirected to my next nearest post office at Dalry Road I was shocked to find that the charge has increased for this service from 50p to 1.50.

Poorer service, increased charges, like the single daily uplift from pillar boxes. Maybe a business opportunity for someone beckons?

Robin I McEwan, Edinburgh

Offensive wasters should get heave

REGARDING the 100 billion earmarked for Trident, it would be interesting to know how in a recession any government could even think of wasting such a vast sum of money on WMD.

When everywhere in Britain there are cuts in vital public services, lack of investment in housing, people without jobs, and fuel rises designed to cripple all but the very rich, it is astounding that the UK Government puts guns before butter.

It is now up to the electorate to stop this offensive waste by government by voting them out.

Trevor Swistchew, Victor Park Terrace, Edinburgh

Repair rather than replace is the key

MOST people know the world's population is fast using up the reserves of oil and gas, estimated at this rate of use to last about 30 to 40 years. The burning of these fuels has created a most dangerous and continuing change in the world's climate.

Unless we all do much more about it the effects will be devastating later this century, and it will be our children and their children who will be harmed.

It is a difficult problem. For most people the amount of oil and gas used is governed by their income. We all have to keep warm, eat and get from A to B.

Recycling paper, tin, glass and plastic is becoming the normal and right thing to do by everyone, but the habit of repairing instead of replacing is lagging way behind, contributing to the problems.

We are bombarded by advertising telling us to buy and replace, even on tick. There are many vested interests who couldn't care less about the destruction of the rain forests, the climate being changed by oil and gas pollution. As long as the money comes pouring in, it follows that many oil companies are deeply implicated.

But what can we all do to help protect the future?

Repair instead of replacing – it's satisfying and money-saving.

Use much less electricity – it can be done.

Do not waste water – this is easy for most households.

Be aware at election time of what policy is being put forward and in whose interest it is, otherwise all our individual efforts can be undone.

Anthony Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens, Edinburgh

Brilliant light or on a dimmer switch?

I NOTICED that Paul Edie has been sent low-energy lightbulbs (News, 1 April). The health and social care leader has presided over some very questionable cost-cutting exercises which have an impact on some of society's most vulnerable people. Is the donor of the bulbs suggesting Mr Edie operates on a low wattage?

Mr A Morris, St Leonard's Lane, Edinburgh

Tell us your views by e-mail:

[email protected]

or write to us at:

Evening News, 108 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8AS