Letters: Historic Scotland boycott would win a park U-turn

Briefly, I ask again what exactly is a commercial vehicle? And is the signage in Holyrood Park suitable? If you take things to the extreme, the lady who is driving a small Fiesta and carrying a hoover and some dusters as part of her cleaning business would in my opinion constitute a commercial vehicle.

Now it would appear that even hearses will be counted as commercial vehicles (News, April 22).

In light of the above, maybe it is time for the public to tackle this issue from a new angle?

Unless Historic Scotland makes it fully clear to the travelling public what constitutes a commercial vehicle and can demonstrate that signage throughout the park is clear and meaningful, then perhaps it is time for the public to boycott Historic Scotland premises.

Perhaps when the revenues begin to fall and it hits the pocket, it might reconsider its bans on certain vehicles?

The public pay for the monarchy and the royal parks through their taxes and those that have a vehicle will have paid road tax.

Therefore, should the public not be allowed to drive through the park in whatever type of transport they see fit without being questioned, stopped and harassed?

Alastair Macintyre, Webster Place, Rosyth, Fife

Speed bumps a waste of money

I UNDERSTAND there are plans to install speed bumps in the Merchiston area, including Merchiston Avenue.

As far as I am aware, there has been no consultation on this matter and the council does not have the money.

I would suggest the council spends the money - if it has any - on repairing the roads and treats drivers with a bit more respect.

CJR Fentiman, Polwarth Gardens, Edinburgh

Trial a failure for people with ME

The PACE trial (Is exercise always good for the body?, News, April 15) is a watershed for people with ME.

The headline conclusions of this study that people with ME should take cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (Get) and not bother with pacing are in absolute contradiction to all previous research and the hard experience of ME sufferers who have not improved with CBT and the majority who have become worse after Get.

Despite costing a massive 5 million, PACE should not be regarded, as some policies in the financial sector sometimes are, as "too big to fail".

It must stand up to scientific and ethical scrutiny or - as this research psychologist and veteran ME sufferer of 23 years believes - if it does not, it has failed.It is surely better to have no treatment at all than one that is ineffective or may harm you.

There isn't a fence to sit on now.

Dr John H Greensmith, ME Free For All.org, North Street, Bristol

Grey matters in Holyrood polls

When reading the Scottish political party manifestos, I was surprised there was little in the way of reference to support for our elderly population.

There were some notable pledges that, if implemented, could bring welcome relief to our country's ageing population, however elderly people may feel they want and deserve more from the Scottish Government.

I was interested to read about the campaign of the Scottish Senior Citizens Union Party. It brands itself as a 'movement', similar to students, rather than a political party. This is a group of pensioners campaigning for the rights and needs of their peers.

With an ever-ageing population, I had thought enticing what the politicians refer to as the 'grey vote' would have played more of an important role than it appears within the pages of the manifestos.

I hope post-May 5 that, whoever is elected to the parliament, will remember the contribution older people have made to society and economy during their lifetime and that we should support them with respect and gratitude.

Lianne Lodge, Solicitors for the Elderly, Queen Street, Edinburgh