Letters: New railway will breathe life back into the Borders again

THE railway to the Borders criticised by Brian Monteith (News, 25 February), like all railways, will be eco-friendly and will take hundreds of cars off the A7 every day, a road that was built for stagecoaches.

Has Brian driven a car on the A7 between 7am and 10am or 4pm till 7pm? It is like Brands Hatch, only more dangerous.

The line will be built with dynamic loops – long passing places allowing for more flexible operation. That makes a great part of the line double track.

In the 1960s Beeching proved that if you take away the branches, the tree dies. Businesses closed in the Borders because the railway closed. Bring back the railway and you bring back the businesses, generate tourism for the local economy and new houses for people who do not want to live in cities.

B Paterson, Gorebridge

Holy books written by fallible humans

YOUR story "Hounded out of our home" (News, 27 February) was a bad reflection on the covert homophobes among us. I wonder if they really know the powerful influence they can have on their overt counterparts?

When gay couple Robert Wicksted and Alex Valentine had to leave their Edinburgh home because of homophobic abuse, a police spokesman said "cases of homophobic abuse would not be tolerated". Sadly, this is not reflected in society.

Because homophobic religious leaders are powerful political lobbyists, weak politicians have allowed the Equalities Bill enough scope to let homophobic religious employers continue with their discriminatory practice of not employing gays as bishops, ministers and the like.

An underlying societal problem with homophobia has come in part from elevating "holy" books like the Bible, the Koran and others as definitive guides on moral behaviour. They are not. These books were written by fallible human beings, not any God.

Religious followers must admit that their "holy" books are not always right. A secular society where religion is not allowed to dominate public life or education might be the second step in making sure that what happened in Edinburgh never happens again.

Jack Fraser, Clayknowes Drive, Musselburgh

Clubs are off target over memberships

IN RESPONSE to the article regarding golf clubs in the Lothians toiling for funds (News, 25 February), I cannot reconcile this fact with some of the decisions I have heard about, made by various committees at certain clubs.

They range from turning away potential members who want to join with only six months of the season left, by expecting them to pay for a full year's membership. Surely accepting six months' membership on a pro rata basis, which in turn would also raise funds through bar receipts or playing guests, must be better than nothing at all.

Even more ludicrous are the decisions to refuse those who have supported the clubs for a number of years who want to step down to five-day membership instead of seven-day membership, as they can no longer commit to playing golf at weekends, instead they seem quite happy to see them leave the club, only to join another club all on a matter of principle.

At a time when they are quite happy to go to the press and plead poverty it does not make any economic sense to turn away or discourage anyone who is willing to part with their money and give the clubs much-needed funds.

George Gray, Craigour

Lack of poll would be insult to Scots

NOW that we are apparently coming out of recession, what is stopping Labour agreeing to a democratic referendum on Scotland's future including having the normal powers of a normal nation to tackle our financial and employment problems?

Are they afraid of testing their Calman Commission proposals against other options such as independence or Devolution Max, which is no different from the federal option which Liberals claim to support?

Labour, Tory and Lib Dems in Wales voted to have a referendum on giving the Welsh Assembly more powers and this is due to be held next year. It is an insult to the Scottish people that they will not trust Scottish voters to have a referendum on their future.

Calum Stewart, Montague Street, Edinburgh

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