Letters: No need to put the brakes on city’s victimised drivers

They are installed at accident and safety blackspots yet, as far as I can recall, there have been no incidences in the park that would merit such a drastic shift in policy.

Cyclists have dedicated lanes separate from the road in the park, so I can see no reason for the limit to be anything but 30mph throughout.

Lindsay Crofts of Duddingston Village Conservation Society says the road shouldn’t be seen as the prime route between the city centre and east Edinburgh, but if it is there to be used and it helps ease congestion around Abbeyhill then it must be utilised.

It’s time to stop picking on drivers in the city.

David Robertson, Kirkhill Gardens, Edinburgh

Honour Sir Robert at Royal Victoria

It was heartening to read the letter suggesting that the Royal Victoria Hospital site should be retained for use for the elderly (Letters, October 11).

If this does occur, it would be a fitting memorial to Sir Robert Philip and his pioneering efforts to improve the health and welfare of Edinburgh folk in the early 20th century.

Only a plaque on the site of his first dispensary at 13 Bank Street commemorates his important contribution to the control and treatment of tuberculosis. His other innovative institution was the Southfield Farm Colony, later to be Southfield Hospital, Liberton, also for the care of the elderly, which now is an attractive housing development.

The Robert Philip Archive in the Library of Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh provides a fascinating insight to the extent of his research and teaching. Maybe the crucial breakthrough treatment of TB by Sir John Crofton and his team in the mid 20th century should also be associated with this recognition.

Margaret Campbell, Dovecot Loan, Edinburgh

Rail progress on Borders route

I SEE it is silly season again. I am assuming Scott Miller (Letters, October 11) does not listen to the radio or read newspapers.

It is well known that advanced works on the Borders railway has been under way for the best part of two years now. Indeed, it was announced recently that stabilisation of the old mine workings in and around Midlothian was under way.

I’m told that there will be an announcement in the week commencing October 22 that Network Rail is to finally take over the contract to build the line and the track could be as far south as Eskbank by March.

In addition, nowhere in Scotland, to my knowledge, does a bus pass allow free train travel. It’s a bus pass!

As for the trams, if the council had handed the project over to folk that knew how to build a tram system instead of the “You’ll do” approach, it would have been built by now. What Scotland needs is an integrated transport system and the Waverley route fully reinstated.

Geoff Ruderham, address supplied