Letters: Parties have denied public a voice over new crossing

That the Permanent Secretary has agreed to allow this to occur in April during the traditional period of "purdah" prior to an election when, to prevent the seeking of electoral advantage, no major announcements by government are normally permitted, says much about the parlous state of political propriety at Holyrood and even more about how this whole project has hijacked the national body politic.

Investment in schools and hospitals is seen as of secondary importance to that of building this unnecessary additional crossing at a cost of some 2.3 billion.

An even better reason to delay the signing of any contract until after the May election is to allow a further inspection of the existing bridge's main cables to ascertain the extent of the expected continued progress in drying out the cables and thus halting or significantly slowing the corrosion found within them. This was originally envisaged to take place this summer - but has now been postponed until next year.

One would have more sympathy for Mr Gordon's position, therefore, if, back in December, instead of leading his Labour troops in voting through the Forth Crossing Bill, he had lobbied instead that the Presiding Officer should have allowed to be debated a Reasoned Amendment submitted to the effect that no further contracts be signed until this re-inspection and a subsequent evaluation of options had taken place. The Presiding Officer refused to allow this amendment to be taken.

The major parties at Holyrood are all culpable in denying a voice to the 57 per cent of Scottish electors who, in a YouGov poll a year earlier, had supported fixing the current bridge over the building of another.

Lawrence Marshall, Chair, ForthRight Alliance, Rose Street, Edinburgh

Pivotal role of principal teachers

EDINBURGH City Council is planning to replace principal teachers of subjects with faculty heads who will administer groups of subjects (News, February 8).

Anyone who knows from experience the inner workings of a secondary school will realise the pivotal role played by principal teachers. They are the powerhouse of the school. They are the people through whom the classroom education of our children is developed.

Faculty heads may be able to carry out supportive administrative duties, but how can they possibly provide a positive educational lead for assistant teachers who know more than they do about the material that is being taught?

If there are sound educational reasons for such a change, the proposers are duty bound to list what they are. As things stand, the only logical reason for such a move seems to be to save money.Do we really want educational policy to be dictated by accountants?

Henry L Philip, former headteacher, Grange Loan, Edinburgh

Gap from red to green hardly seen

I AM constantly amazed that there are not more accidents due to our traffic signals. In many locations throughout the city as one light changes to red the other is changing to green with barely a one-second gap separating them.

David Wallace, Goose Green Crescent, Musselburgh

All efforts to save BlindCraft failed

CONTRARY to the opposition councillor's comments that the decision to go to consultation on potential closure of BlindCraft was taken on the Lord Provost's casting vote (News, February 11), the vote was 40 for the decision and 18 against.

I suspect all casting their vote for consultation on closure did so with a heavy heart. Every effort has been made to try to make BlindCraft a going concern. All efforts have failed. It is not sustainable to continue to put more than 1 million a year of council subsidy into the business.

Cllr Jenny Dawe, leader, Edinburgh City Council