Letters: Closing down a successful nursery makes no sense

I AM a parent with two children at High School Yards Nursery and a third child who attends the playgroup session held there by Sure Start every Wednesday morning.

I have been taking my children to the nursery playgroup for more than two years now, so have built a strong bond with the nursery and staff.

My daughter and son found the transition to nursery easy as they already knew the place and the staff which made my life so easy.

I'm praying that my youngest son also has the same opportunity as his siblings, where he can move on from playgroup to nursery without a care.

I have tried to explain to my children that the nursery might be closing down and my daughter put it quite simply: "But mummy, why do they want to close the nursery?" "Good question," I replied. "I don't know sweetheart."

Why would a nursery which received an excellent rating in 2010 be up for closure?

Have these councillors seriously taken the time out and asked themselves what the repercussions of this closure are?

This nursery has provided quality care for several decades and can go on doing so if given a chance. We urge the councillors to please think carefully before making their final decision and help save our nursery.

I recommend the councillors take a stroll down there and have a look for themselves. Without any doubt in my mind, they are sure to have the same feeling as all the other visitors and then it will hit them hard - why on earth are they thinking of closing this nursery down?

Dr C Sellami, Blacket Avenue, Edinburgh

Government is to blame for cuts

IT is with huge disappointment I have had to announce a 10.4 per cent cut of 2.4 million in Telford College's budget (News, March 9).

This is nothing to do with poor local management of finances, but rather the college has been forced into this position by government cuts on further education (FE) colleges. Colleagues are angry. I am angry; supporting FE is my mantra.

At Telford we have embraced a vocational training and development route. This will support the future development of the Scottish economy and provide learners with the skills for jobs. We are about positive destinations.

The jobs at risk not only focus on teachers and administrative staff; 17 managers are at risk.

That said, we can guarantee that all students will be able to complete any current courses.

We believe in FE and we are open for business. All our current learners will be supported and able to finish their programmes. However, we cannot be everything to everybody, we are no longer funded to do this. That is the reality.

These are government cuts, they are not Telford's cuts.Miles Dibsdall OBE, principal and chief executive, Telford College

Dizzy Lib Dems have no direction

DO the Lib Dems check anything they write? A recent leaflet said the Scottish Elections were on May 4 and now Mike Pringle admits using public funds to deliver a party political leaflet (News, March 8) even though he voted for the rule prohibiting that. Politicians are often, and sometimes rightly, criticised for hypocritical stances on issues. However, the latest Lib Dem leaflet from Mr Pringle takes the biscuit.

It claims the Lib Dems are against tuition fees (although they have just broken their election pledge by trebling them).

It is possibly not surprising that the Lib Dems are so disorientated, since they must be dizzy through trying regularly to face in opposite directions at the same time on policy issues.

Principles mean nothing to them. They will do and say anything to get access to power.

Henry L Philip, Grange Loan, Edinburgh

City's priorities are all wrong

HOW can the city council charge gardening fees for pensioners at double what they were when they can spend money on daft portraits of people that cost thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money?

Helen King, Easter Drylaw Drive, Edinburgh