Letters: Extra tables at cafe should have been a piece of cake

For Diana Cairns to object the application at Belle cafe was a mistake and a backward step for Portobello. Would she rather see our High Street shops closed and boarded up?

I know Ms Cairns has in the past campaigned against large superstores moving in to Portobello, but Belle Cafe is hardly your giant retailer.

This decision will only hit the people that would have benefited most from a cake and tea house and that is the older community and mothers with toddlers.

What more could you ask for on a cold winter day in Porty, than some old fashioned chit-chat, a good brew and a nice piece of cake?

C Ross, Prestonfield

Ideal site exists for Green Bank

THE search is on for a “high-profile” site for the new UK Green Investment Bank to be situated in Edinburgh (News, March 10), Waverleygate, Quartermile and Exchange Place in Fountainbridge being favourites.

Why does it have to be “high-profile” and “prominent”? If city council economic development convener Tom Buchanan truly wants it to be “a good advertisement” for the city, then why doesn’t Edinburgh put its green money where its mouth is and site it at Oxgangs? There’s a cracking, large site lying empty – that of the former Hunters Tryst School – with a great view of the Pentland Hills. A new building here would face south, get loads of sun and could be solar powered, its construction providing local jobs.

There’s good public transport in the area, so no employee would need to use a car.

Oxgangs has wonderfully fresh air and two lovely parks in the vicinity and plenty other green spaces. Robert Louis Stevenson, an early Edinburgh environmentalist, used to regularly walk past the site on his way to and from Swanston. Could all of this not be an excellent advertisement for Edinburgh?

Friends of Oxgangs, Oxgangs Brae, Edinburgh

Protests are only a flash in the pan

I WAS surprised to see the article “Whipping up a storm” on the front page (News, March 10).

As a small Edinburgh-based arts-focused business I am keen to ensure our ethos in providing a platform for erotic artists (both local and touring) is not lost among allegations of “protest”.

Additionally, of the events mentioned Torture Garden has been happening in Edinburgh for three years in the same venue, without attracting any protests. Your sister publications Scotland on Sunday and the Scotsman have spoken of the event in glowing terms.

Donna McGrory, creative director, Itsy Events

Laws needed for all road users

I FULLY agree with David Mackenzie (Letters, March 12) with regard to control over cyclists, but I would go further. There should be regulations about the wearing of helmets and hi-vis clothing along with a minimum brightness of both back and front lights.

I travelled from Murrayfield to Clovenstone, via Asda, Chesser on Monday about 6.10pm when although there was still a small amount of light, street lights were on.

I came across nine cyclists, two of whom were wearing dark clothing and no lights (one of those with no helmet), six had inadequate lighting (one had no front light), and one had high-vis, helmet, adequate front light, but barely a light at the back.

Most of these cyclists did manoeuvres in and out of cars, with the two unlit also on the pavements. There must be regulations put in place to protect the cyclists and the motorist.

D Kerr, Clovenstone