Letters: Don't turn other peoples' patch into dumping ground

Fly tipping is an issue in most if not all communities, but I am disgusted at the fact people have chosen to dump waste near my home.

As I was out walking the dog I stumbled across masses of rubbish ranging from broken televisions, fridge freezers, sinks, toilets and broken slabs to name a few.

I also noticed three recycling boxes with the East Lothian logo, yet this is Craigmillar!

The city council's lack of responsibility relating to this problem has been shocking. They and dumb dumpers have been contacted on numerous occasions yet nothing has been removed. Last week, I witnessed two environmental wardens standing and observing the area. Clearly they haven't bothered to do anything about it as still the problem remains.

This problem is coming from tradespeople with vans filled with rubbish to tip, and householders who jump in the car to dispose of their waste here.

They have been witnessed and registration numbers noted and reported.

This isn't a waste disposal depot, so keep your rubbish to yourselves as we do not want it and especially not in a through way where children walk to school and could be hurt by broken glass, wood with nails left in and clumps of concrete lying over the place.

It is irresponsible and illegal and downright disrespectful to the people of our community. Put yourselves in our shoes and see how you feel.

R Glanville, Craigmillar

Parents deserve to have a voice

THE proposed cuts to secondary schools, which are driving the move from a departmental subject-based model to a faculty model, have not been properly and openly debated on educational grounds.

A number of high school parent council chairs made this point in their deputations to the council's budget meeting in February. We argued that the cuts were being made too quickly and too deeply.

The tight timescales for the savings mean that headteachers must consult with parent councils and parents by the end of June.

As a parent council chair of a large high school, I do not see how our parent council can effectively consult our parents on the proposed changes this quickly, because no debate has been held about the educational advantages and disadvantages of the faculty model.

More work needs to be done to communicate with parents - we are key stakeholders and we require a reasoned debate to satisfy ourselves that these changes have educational merit and are not just about money.

Tina Woolnough, chair, Royal High School parent council

Housing policy leaves confusion

THERE is an apparent misunderstanding within the ranks of the Scottish Government over their own manifesto commitments on housing.

The SNP's manifesto clearly states that they will build 6000 new 'social' homes each year.This commitment to fund new social homes sits alongside the commitment to fund other forms of affordable housing.

But the Scottish Government's response to our evidence that there is a black hole at the heart of the SNP's funding for social homes was exclusively about these other forms of affordable housing.

Shelter Scotland, along with other housing organisations, stands ready to work with ministers to meet this bold commitment but we must end the confusion, no doubt unintended, between what the SNP's manifesto gives them a mandate to deliver and the funds they have allocated to do it.

Graeme Brown, director, Shelter Scotland, Edinburgh

Tories are 'too posh to poster'

I AM not sure why your leader expressed surprise that Green councillor and MSP Alison Johnstone opposed the Tory-led ban on election posters (News, June 3).

One argument is that their appearance, once a year, for a week, constitutes an eyesore.

That is surely specious compared to the litany of posters and fliers that cover the city at other times with far less traceability. The real truth is that the Tories are simply too posh to poster.

Gavin Corbett, Briarbank Terrace, Edinburgh