Letters: Ludicrous Waverley taxi ban must be dropped off

Despite the fact that new escalators and lifts have been installed, we have a repeat of the situation when there was a temporary ban recently to allow refurbishment work to be carried out.

That was essential and appreciated, although it was inconvenient due to lack of drop-off and pick-up spaces.

The situation we will have is taxis trying to pick up/drop off at three points.

The top of Waverley Steps, interfering with the Balmoral Hotel and bus stop space; Waverley Bridge, again interfering with bus stops and existing taxi rank; and Market Street, adjacent to a pedestrian crossing and metered parking spaces.

The excuse given of possible terrorist threat is beyond comprehension. The other excuse that Waverley is the only station in the country that allows taxis inside is another red herring.

As Waverley is a unique situation, a unique approach should be applied and taxis should be allowed to continue to pick up and drop off within the station at platform level.

Taxi drivers are no more likely to bring in terrorists than any train company.

Alan Sked, Glebe Place, Burntisland

Pick-ups would be worth millions

ALL of us receive junk mail that most of us bin, but if the postal service also uplifted from domestic houses at the point of delivering our mail, we would probably use the service more.

The Royal Mail performs a service like this in the country, where mail boxes are few and far between.

If they extended this service to the city and towns, more of us would use Royal Mail instead of e-mail. The Royal Mail would make millions.

James E Fraser, Cockburn Street, Edinburgh

Budget shows cost of voting Labour

I WAS very disappointed to listen to the Labour opposition’s budget on East Lothian Council this week.

Budget time is an opportunity to set a path for what you would do if you were in administration and, judging by the display on Tuesday, it will be a long time until the people of East Lothian give them the chance.

Not only was their budget thin and without vision or clarity, it also proposed a 22 per cent cut to the Fairer East Lothian and community safety grant funds over the course of the next two years.

This would have meant cuts to well-loved Fa’side services, such as Care Free Kids and budgets slashed to our local Tranent police team.

Cllr Kenny McLeod, SNP, Fa’side Ward

Axe superstition at council talks

I FEEL sorry for Donald Jack, whose superstitious belief leads him to want council meetings to include prayers (Letters, February 20). My hope is he will come to his senses and see reason.

Steuart Campbell, Dovecot Loan, Edinburgh