Letters: Investment a waste if the beach is left to wash away

I was astonished to read of Councillor Ewan Aitken's naivete regarding the council's plans to shore up the coastal defences at Portobello (News, January 18).

I'm on the beach daily and saw first-hand the damage wreaked by the storms last March. The beach hasn't recovered and the promenade lies exposed. Another storm of similar proportions would be seriously destructive.

Perhaps Cllr Aitken should visit the beach before he makes ridiculous comments about the sand blowing back. What's the point in investing money in the surrounding area if the beach, the very foundation of Portobello, is left to wash away?

Tom Martin, Joppa Grove, Edinburgh

Now's the time to prepare for future

THE council may have the best of intentions when it comes to bolstering flood defences (Interactive, January 18), but is this precaution really necessary, and wouldn't the funds and manpower be better spent on something else?

The clearing of copious amounts of grit from pavements, a legacy of the adverse weather, springs to mind and though this may not be very dangerous to adults, children and pets could be at risk.

Also, would it not be much tidier and safer if containers for grit were re-introduced as opposed to having large, unsightly heaps of grit dumped on street corners?

We may have seen the worst of what this particular winter has to offer but now would be the ideal time in which to start preparing for future periods of adverse weather, whether it be rain, snow or ice.

Angus McGregor, Albion Road, Edinburgh

Vulnerable could suffer in reforms

I WRITE ahead of the Welfare Reform Bill to be introduced to parliament this month.

Whilst I broadly support the reforms outlined in the White Paper on "Universal Credit: welfare that works" which form the basis of the bill to simplify the benefits system, I remain concerned that an overarching objective to cut the benefits bill may be detrimental to the most vulnerable in society.

Of particular concern is changes to the Local Housing Allowance. We cannot afford to underestimate the affect housing, and social housing in particular, has on the overall economy and how important a role it plays in people's lives.

One issue we have in Edinburgh in particular is in regards to housing benefit claimants living in private properties. The council believes 6732 tenants would have their benefit cut. While some landlords may reduce their rents, due to the high level of demand in the city what we are more likely to see is that benefit claimants will be unable to afford their rents and forced out of their homes.

This would put further strain on the social housing sector which is already overburdened and unable to meet the existing demand.

Now is not the time for such changes to housing benefit. Unemployment remains high and with sweeping cuts across the public sector the pressure is too much for the economy, as well as individuals, to bear.

Keith Anderson, Port of Leith Housing Association

Pension rise not linked to reality

I AM sure it is only one of life's little coincidences that Westminster has changed the link against which it calculates pension increases from the level of inflation, to the level of average wage increases... at precisely the time when the former begins to outstrip the latter by 100 per cent.

If the national pension was linked to real inflation (the RPI) it would be due to go up by nearly five per cent this year. And pigs might fly.

David Fiddimore, Calton Road, Edinburgh

Sentiments were sent from charity

THE letter "Concerns over important lifeline" (News, January 6) was generated by a charity to elicit support for the campaign. The letter was not sent directly from me. I have contacted the charity and expressed my concern regarding this matter.

L Girvan, Edinburgh