Letters: Fans’ Olympic fire doused as the torch goes missing

But they were only to experience a huge disappointment as they never got as much as a glimpse of the torch, because there was no relay runner. The torch was hidden from view in a vehicle, part of the convoy escorted over the bridge by police motorcycles.

How ridiculous is that! What were the organisers thinking about as the torch has been paraded in many famous locations from Snowdonia and St Andrews to the Callanish standing stones on Lewis?

Yet when it comes to crossing the Firth of Forth, with a backdrop of one of the most iconic sights in the world, the fantastic Forth Bridge, what do they do?

They hide it in a vehicle en route to Hopetoun House to an invitation-only event.

What a disgrace! This crazy decision left a lot of men, women and children so disappointed and badly let down.

Hamish Campbell, Henry Ross Place, South Queensferry

Let’s hope London does a better job

I WAS disappointed at being unable to attend the torch celebration at Edinburgh Castle.

Apparently all tickets were sold out in five minutes!

However, on watching TV pictures of event live on the BBC, it was obvious that there were lots of empty spaces, and not that many standing.

Let’s hope the Olympics in London are better attended.

Alun Thomas, Sinclair Close, Edinburgh

Crowning glory of way we were

IT was interesting to hear the complaints about the BBC coverage of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee events.

At the time of the Queen’s coronation in 1953, I was living on a prefab estate, in Ferniehill Terrace in Gilmerton.

One neighbour had the only television in the street. People from every house came to view it through the window or crammed into the front room to witness the event.

After about an hour we all went out into the street and had a party to mark the event. Every street on the estate did the same.

We did not sit about like mummies waiting for someone to do everything for us like today’s people, who act as if they are entombed.

It was a great day that day, and very well remembered.

Well done the Queen.

Neil S Roy, Wolfreton Lane, Hull

Planners restore faith in council

THE impact of redevelopment of the Theatre Workshop, at Hamilton Place in Stockbridge, into a large restaurant, has been concerning residents since it was announced.

However, at the planning committee meeting on June 6 it was agreed that the committee, before proceeding any further with the consideration of the development application, would carry out a site visit to put the objections of the local residents in context.

I would like, on behalf of all the residents of Hamilton Place and St Stephen’s Place, to thank the members of the planning committee for taking the time to visit and restoring some of the faith we had started to lose in the council.

John Dean, Hamilton Place, Stockbridge

Burst pipes cause biggest problem

THE Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) Scotland has said that metering of water should be introduced to cut consumption by 30 per cent.

ICE uses the emotive words “expensive water to water the garden and wash the car, population growth, carbon footprint” and the words that are supposed to strike fear into the population – “global warming”.

Perhaps ICE does not realise that “global warming” is no longer used since the planet has not warmed for 15 years.

ICE must know that water wastage through burst pipes is by far the biggest problem.

Does it want to increase our water bills so that directors of Scottish Water get even higher salaries, bonuses and gold plated pensions?

There is more water available than we can use and it goes into the sea, so unless we build more water containment areas this will continue.

Clark Cross, Springfield Road, Linlithgow