Letters: Eyesore buildings leave a poor impression of Capital

I dare say the residents and business owners at the Foot of Leith Walk will be quite chuffed that their area is to get a much-needed revamp (News, January 20).

The same should apply to the eyesore that is now the disused Shrubhill House, because this building really has become a blight on the landscape and has become a magnet for every graffiti artist in town.

If there are no plans for it, it should demolished at the earliest possible date as it does absolutely nothing for the image of the area or Edinburgh itself.

The city does have its fair share of buildings that have become real eyesores, this being perhaps the most glaring, and you can only imagine what sort of impression is created in the minds of tourists.

Angus McGregor, Albion Road, Edinburgh

Snail mail keeps customers waiting

I AM writing regarding an article in the News (January 12) about the Christmas post, and that everything was back to normal, according to the Royal Mail.

Why, then, did a friend of mine in Drum Cottages receive four Christmas cards last weekend? At that time I was still waiting for two, one from Galway in the Republic of Ireland, and one from Weston-Super-Mare.

I expect I wasn't alone as there must be a number of people in the same boat.

No wonder the Royal Mail is in such a state.

June Kerrigan, Ferniehill Grove, Edinburgh

Foundations for industry are weak

No-one should allow themselves to be misled by the latest GDP figures for Scotland into thinking that the construction industry is doing well.

The latest statistics show that the construction sector grew by 6.2 per cent between July and September last year. However, separate figures also published this week by the Accountant in Bankruptcy show corporate insolvencies up 24 per cent in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same quarter of the preceding year.

According to recent figures from the UK insolvency service, this trend includes a doubling in the number of construction firms forced into compulsory liquidation between July and September 2010 compared to the third quarter of 2009.

These figures tell a different story and illustrate the increasingly tough trading conditions being faced by many building firms as we moved into the latter months of last year.

Most construction firms I speak to are extremely anxious about the outlook for 2011. In the absence of additional public investment to generate new work, this worrying trend in insolvencies looks set to continue and I fear that the growth in output from construction seen in the middle of last year will be a high tide mark for the industry for some time to come.

Michael Levack, chief executive, Scottish Building Federation, Edinburgh

Better to spend on Porty Beach now

Portobello Beach is often overlooked as one of Edinburgh's great assets so I noted your concern about the shifting sands with interest (News, January 18).

As you acknowledge, it's not for cosmetic reasons that this work is to take place but rather to bolster the coastal defences which took such a battering in 2010. Is it not better to spend a bit of money now before more serious damage takes place?

I agree with Cllr Aitken that we have waited a long time for improvements to the Promenade, but he seems to be a little out of touch about the library.

For years under the Labour administration the mantra was new build is the only option. However, a new library for Portobello wasn't going to happen even under the irresponsible boom years that they enjoyed.

Last year, under this administration, the council refurbished the existing building, providing an excellent facility, something which is both more cost efficient and a more sustainable use of our scarce resources.

Spending has to be prioritised and, as much as I would like to see an improvement to the Promenade, ensuring that there actually is a Promenade is my priority.

Stephen Hawkins, Liberal Democrat councillor for Portobello/Craigmillar ward