Letters: New store will bring bad news to other retailers

There won't be anything like 600 jobs added to the Edinburgh economy.

Each time a large chain store opens, some other trader closes or loses business. I don't know the numbers for the clothing sector but in food retailing each supermarket opening is a net loser of jobs.

And then there's a question of what kind of economy we want. Since the 1990s our economic foundation has been based on expansion of unstable credit used to flood the country with cheap imported goods, made in countries with scant regard for workers' conditions or use of scarce natural resources. We became an economy defined by consumerism: "I shop, therefore I am." It was a system built on sand but is Primark not the high priestess of that system?

At least Primark has said it intends to recruit long-term unemployed people. But it still amounts to a less worse way of implementing a bad economic model.

Gavin Corbett, Briarbank Terrace, Edinburgh

Double standards on double parking

I AM writing to express my frustration at double parking in the area between Leith Walk and Easter Road.

The final straw was when I received a parking ticket at 2:18am (!) for parking on Iona Street – admittedly I was partly on a double yellow line, but was not obstructing traffic.

Meanwhile, the many cars that were double parked and blocking in other drivers were not ticketed, which smacks of a lack of fairness.

I have been blocked in on occasions by inconsiderate drivers, I have seen ambulances and fire engines unable to get through Buchanan Street because the road is blocked up by double-parkers and I am fed up of it. The council needs to act on this. Other communities have got police notices up about double parkers, does Leith not deserve the same?

Grant Fraser, Buchanan Street, Edinburgh

Vote tram backers out of power

THE tram project has so far bankrupted or crippled businesses all along its projected route, gridlocked the city's road system, broken the back of a once model bus service with delays and diversions, spent 75 per cent of its budget on 20 per cent of the work (and even that was delivered late), failed to collect the contributions promised by its private sector customers, and if ever completed will be unable to run without a hefty subsidy from the bus network.

Not only TIE and the contractors need sacking – it is any councillor who voted in favour of any part of this project at any time in its history – and that's what we'll have the opportunity to do at the next election.

David Fiddimore, Calton Road, Edinburgh

Let's pay tribute to the miners

LOOKING ahead to the Christmas and New Year festivities perhaps it would be quite fitting if some sort of tribute show was organised to honour the courage and hope shown by the Chilean miners who have now been rescued from their hellish ordeal.

Edinburgh is, after all, renowned for its international festivals, so not only would such an event enhance this reputation, but any funds made could go to charity.

Speaking of the rescue mission you have to hand it to the Chilean authorities who have gone about this with admirable organisation, efficiency and determination.

If such qualities were shown here perhaps we would not have quite the same social and economical problems we do.

Angus McGregor, Albion Road, Edinburgh

Bring the Chilean engineers here

NOW the engineers have successfully rescued the miners in Chile, can they now redeploy to Edinburgh and rescue the trams? It will be much simpler task as it's only laying lengths of steel in straight lines on a flat surface.

Dannie Murdoch, Camus Avenue, Edinburgh