Letters: Ferris wheel could mean a great deal for Porty traders

While it is understandable that city traders want something which might generate business, I do not think that having a big wheel in Princes Street Gardens would have the desired effect.

Not only that but would such an attraction not spoil the elegance and relative tranquillity of what is a pleasant and peaceful area?

I don’t know if it’s been earmarked for a particular purpose with the work that appears to be going on but the gap site at the west end of Portobello promenade strikes me as being the ideal location for a big wheel and such an addition might do wonders in attracting more visitors to this scenic area.

Angus McGregor, Albion Road, Edinburgh

Think before you cast that stone

IN his attempt to throw mud at the SNP and Alex Salmond, Frank Russell conveniently forgets Labour’s close ties with those he now castigates (Letters March 9).

Gordon Brown and Donald Dewar welcomed the support Sean Connery gave for the 1997 devolution referendum campaign and happily posed for photographs with Scotland’s most famous actor.

Labour had no problem in accepting the support of Rupert Murdoch’s tabloids in 2007, and despite the phone hacking scandal Ed Miliband and Ed Balls enjoyed champagne and oysters at News International’s summer party last year.

The first Scottish politician to court Donald Trump was Jack McConnell and they had a lunch of shrimps and steak in New York with a photo opportunity to publicise Trump’s proposed golf course.

And last month Brian Souter’s Stagecoach Group continued its support of Scottish jobs by placing an order of 390 new buses to be made by Falkirk- based Alexander Dennis, thus securing work for its 900 strong workforce in Scotland.

Therefore Mr Russell should think carefully before casting the first stone.

Janice Thompson, Walter Scott Avenue, Edinburgh

Standard of care at ERI was great

I WISH to thank staff, porters cleaners, nurses, doctors and surgeons, indeed everyone who works at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary who looked after me during my recent stay.

The standard of care from each one of these professional people was excellent. I would like to thank especially all staff at Ward 102 and Ward 111 and I thank God that we have them.

David McGuire, Edinburgh

Cartoon did not make me smile

I’VE usually managed a wry smile, sometimes even a genuine laugh, when I’ve been the target of a Frank Boyle cartoon – until last Thursday.

I fear that Frank is now suffering from Repetitive Cartoon Syndrome. Once too often, he’s had administration councillors evicted from the City Chambers.

I found it particularly ironic that I caught up with Frank’s cartoon on my return from an international event where Edinburgh was lauded as Best European Large City of the Future and received accolades for our Foreign Direct Investment strategy, Quality of Life, Economic Potential, Human Resources and Business Friendliness; and where the Liberal Democrat/SNP administration was praised for the way it has improved the city against all the odds of economic recession.

Cllr Jenny Dawe, leader, Edinburgh City Council

Salmond is living on another planet

IF Alex Salmond wants us to think that wind turbines are the way forward for Scotland, he is definitely not living on the same planet as the rest of us, and his green crusade will be his political undoing.

Alan Lough, Dunbar