Letters: Disgraceful decision shows no respect for the disabled

The decision announced by the coalition government to close the Remploy factory in Edinburgh clearly demonstrates its two-faced approach to people with disabilities.

It continually claims it will support people with disabilities to find employment but its decision to close the factory is further evidence that it cares little for the future hopes of disabled people.

It adds it will assist these employees to find other employment but gives no indication of where these jobs will magically materialise.

I was glad to read that the SNP intend to pursue this issue with the UK Government and wish them well in their efforts to have this disgraceful decision reversed.

R Hawkes, Craigs Drive, Edinburgh

Cutting corners is not new approach

I WAS pleased to read (Evening News, September 20) that picking up bin bags is now a recognised hazardous activity.

Maybe the union should speak to the crew in our street. Our bin usually has only one bag in it because we already recycle most of our rubbish. For years we have been complaining that the bin men frequently lift the bag out of our bin as they walk past and drop it into our neighbour’s.

Obviously this practice saved the crew time and effort because they only had to put one bin on the lorry, but it meant our bin never got properly emptied and became 
difficult to keep clean. They became so practised in this technique that only about half of all the bins went on to the lorry.

I too tried playing the health and safety card every time I phoned the council to complain – things got better for a bit but then reverted. Maybe the union will succeed where the management failed.

Helen Hughes, Comiston Drive, Edinburgh

Data security will be tightened

A TIGHTENING of security in the light of the theft of an unencrypted laptop (News, September 18) was not just implicit in my response. It was explicit in the very first paragraph of the article reporting my reaction.

I then made clear that these incidents must be used to drive an improvement in data 
security.

I hardly think that response merits the rather unflattering adjectives directed at me by Dennis Connolly (Letters, September 21). I am well aware of the law in relation to data security. The council works with many partners and individuals and this theft was from one such partner. The result of this incident will be the tightening of the council’s data security.

Cameron Rose, Conservative councillor for Southside and Newington ward

Accies comments were misleading

Mr Murphy (Accies will need to think of plan B, Letters, September 20) may think “the Portobello Park legal verdict is welcome” but has he considered the feelings of those in the area who are now left without a new school? I’m all for preserving green space, but not at any cost.

He should also be careful of misleading people into 
thinking the proposed Accies development poses a risk to green space in the Stockbridge/Inverleith area. The wording of his letter is such that anyone reading it who is not already aware of the proposals would assume Accies want to replace their playing field with retail units and a car park. This is simply not the case, as Mr Murphy is well aware.

Accies are actually proposing to include some retail units within their planned new facilities. These facilities will be situated along part of the perimeter of the ground, with the vast majority of the open space retained and improved for playing sport.

Mr Murphy is correct in stating that “Accies may leave or fold if they fail to win approval”. They have clearly said that their current financial situation is untenable and these proposals hold the key to their continued existence. Has Mr Murphy considered what will happen to this open, green space then?

Louise Hodgson, Malta Terrace, Edinburgh

No grey areas for the First Minister

ALEX Salmond is approaching 60 – yet his hair remains jet black. Does he have a special secret? I think we should be told.

Dave Cochrane, Spottiswoode Street, Edinburgh