Letters: Only word for environment department's work is rubbish

I HAVE raised on several occasions the question of why so many traffic cones, signs etc are left lying by various contractors with Councillor Robert Aldridge, whose department it is that should ultimately remove these items.

He states that his department has a system in place for this work.

Oh really?

His department should also fine these contractors for leaving these signs, just like the rest of the public are fined for littering, but it chooses not to.

In addition, I also asked Cllr Aldridge why there are so many redundant sign posts around the city, adding to the overall rundown appearance.

All this adds up to many areas of the approach into the city and the centre itself being a mess.

This cannot go unnoticed by visitors to Edinburgh as it is most certainly noticed by the residents.

Why are these items, along with broken street lights, fencing and so on not reported by the environmental wardens and the various other employees of that department? Too much bother, no doubt.

I would be very surprised if there was a more inefficient department in the entire council and that really is saying something.

They just could not care less.

David Black, Kenmure Avenue, Edinburgh

Craggy good looks of Holyrood star

I SEE that they're thinking of selling off the famous HOLLYWOOD sign in Los Angeles.

Our council should buy it, drop an L, add an R and put a HOLYROOD sign up on the Salisbury Crags ... not that many folk would be singing Hooray for Holyrood, but it might bring a smile to tourists.

Joyce Watson, Edinburgh

Biomass will be a bad neighbour

I READ with interest the views expressed in the for and against a biomass generator article (News, 29 March).

I was recently able to ask Calum Wilson, managing director of Forth Energy, which plans a renewable energy plant at the port of Leith, directly about the benefit to the community of heat, power or hot water.

He admitted these will only be supplied to houses built on the Forth Ports land around the generator and only if financially viable.

That "village" is not going to be started for 20 years, the life of the generator is 25 years, so what real benefit does that offer?

This proposal is financially motivated with no thought being given to the existing community – it is self-evident that the quality of life will be adversely affected by having a huge, noisy plant emitting fumes compounded by lorries moving in and out 24 hours a day, moving ash and recycled wood through our already busy streets.

I won't be saving up to buy a flat with a bad neighbour like that.

Linda Tarbuck, chair, Leith Links Residents Association

Would parties keep on empty schools?

GEMMA Fraser's article (Teacher's 'personal pain' at school closure 'hypocritical', News, 29 March) makes a big issue of Mrs Kaukab Stewart's pain at the closures of primary schools, which, as the SNP candidate points out, are necessitated by falling pupil numbers.

Would the Tory and Green councillors keep open empty schools?

Perhaps they should be asking the Westminster candidates for the London-based parties why they back hugely costly projects like replacement of Trident, a military nonsense.

Robin MacCormick, Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh,

The tram sham

BY THE time the trams are complete it will have been a staggering five years of roadworks.

These roadworks include generators, diggers, JCBs, drills and trucks spewing out carbon emissions.

If the output of carbon emissions that come from the roadworks over five years were to be measured, it would shoot to pieces the excuse that the trams are for the purpose of cutting down pollution.

Alan Lough, East Lothian

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