Letters: Council should be ashamed over lack of school support

EDINBURGH City Council should be thoroughly ashamed of itself over the treatment of Ciara McGearey (News, 26 January).

The council has refused to pay fees for her to attend the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh. And that's despite the fact that a tribunal set up under the Additional Support for Learning Act, ruled in November that the Blind School was the best option for Ciara.

The council, of course, wants to do things on the cheap and send her to the council-run Oaklands Special School. I'm sure it's a well-run school, but it does not specialise in blindness.

Ciara's father, Mac, is a soldier. If he's putting his life on the line for his country, surely the least he should expect in return would be that his daughter is given the most appropriate form of education.

I know the council has a funding "black hole" it needs to fill, but depriving a young girl of a suitable education is a deplorable way of trying to save a few quid.

Andrew Morrison, Dalry Road, Edinburgh

Opportunity to give acclaim to Elsie

THREE recent articles in the Edinburgh Evening News have a common theme.

They are "Campaigners in fight for Royal Mile statue of medic Elsie Inglis" (10 November); "Rivals' new beef with Gold Brothers over burger bar deal" (18 January); and "New 'homely' birth centre is conceived for mums-to-be" (28 January).

In 1904 Elsie Inglis opened her "Hospice" at 219, High Street. Its main aim was to provide assistance to the poorer women of Edinburgh during pregnancy and confinement. A very inconspicuous plaque, commemorating this fact, sits above the "Wannaburger" restaurant, recently purchased by the Gold brothers.

There is now a great opportunity for Edinburgh City Council and NHS Lothian to acknowledge the immense impact that Elsie Inglis had in Edinburgh 100 years ago and then for her country during the First World War. She died on active service in 1917. She deserves this city's recognition with a statue on the High Street but this "fantastic" new maternity facility could also recognise her pioneering work a century ago. "Elsie's" closed in 1988 and now an opportunity beckons to re-establish the name.

John H McClure, Priestfield, Edinburgh

SNP are robbing Peter to pay Paul

IAN Swanson's report (News, 26 January) tells us that 1.2 million will be spent by the council to recruit 32 additional full-time teachers to cut class sizes in 20 per cent of the city's P1 – P3 classrooms. Where on earth will an additional 1.2m come from?

Councillor Marilyne MacLaren is quoted as saying that "the flexibility around the extension of pre-school provision, means it will be a lot easier for us to move forward on the class sizes policy".

What that actually means is "we had money in the budget to increase nursery hours as per the SNP election promise but Mike Russell now says he's not too bothered provided we plough the money into class size reduction instead."

The fact that Cllr MacLaren is prepared to collude with the SNP Government in robbing Nursery Peter to pay Class Size Paul tells us much about the desperation to conceal broken promises at Holyrood and the City Chambers.

Cllr Ricky Henderson,Labour Education spokesperson, Edinburgh City Council

Fond memories of generous Martin

MY FRIEND e-mailed me the article about the sad passing of Martin Frutin (News, 27 January). When I worked at Ferry Road Garage I met Martin, who had a travel agency in Great Junction Street. At the workshop we used to look after Martin's needs regarding his vehicles. He was very particular and precise, especially about his Jaguar.

I took pride in looking after and servicing and maintaining his cars. Martin was the guy that organised my trip to Majorca with my fiance in 1975. He was so professional and we really enjoyed our time in Majorca.

Later Martin organised our honeymoon trip to Majorca and we had a most enjoyable time.

Even although I only new Martin for a short time he really inspired me, I last saw Martin in the late seventies when my wife and I emigrated to Australia. RIP, Martin.

Brian Roberts, Australia

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