Letters: Punishment would make it sore for sewer busters

Should the public be told what not to put into drains, or would that just be a waste of money?

It is a shame that part of Princes Street Garden had to be cordoned off due to a burst sewer (News, July 13).

This is not the first time this situation has occurred. I believe part of the problem might be the heavy deposits of cooking fat/oils which were found amongst the debris and are known to clog up sewers.

If the blockage was caused by deposits of fat then Scottish Water should be trying to trace those responsible for pouring fats into the drainage system and handing the culprits a very hefty fine.

Other than waste water or natural effects which are flushed down a toilet, nothing else should be entering the drainage system.

It is incredibly selfish of businesses and members of the public who put items into the drainage system that are not meant to be there.

Earlier this year my drains became blocked because someone had been flushing nappies into the sewer which in turn caused a blockage. Although I did not cause the problem, it was me who had the expense of calling out a plumber.

Scottish Water needs to have a programme to educate people as to the consequences of putting the wrong items into the sewage system, and back this up with hefty fines for persistent offenders.

Alastair Macintyre, Webster Place, Rosyth

Apartheid state in the Middle East

HOW ironic that Israel, which claims to be the only democracy in the Middle East, sees fit to lock up two Edinburgh citizens whose sole purpose is to visit friends in Bethlehem and help plant olive trees, a symbol of peace (News, July 13).

Freedom of movement, it seems, is granted to those who wish to visit Israel, but not to those who wish to visit friends on the West Bank. Blocking access to the outside world is, of course, only a small part of the barbaric measures taken by Israel to starve, harass and dispossess the Palestinian people.

Surely it is now time for all citizens of the Capital to respond to the appeal from wide sections of Palestinian society to refuse to buy Israeli produce from our shops and supermarkets. The Scottish Government should cut off all diplomatic and trading links with this bastion of apartheid.

Paul Chadwick, Edinburgh

Israel has right to control borders

WITH regard to Mick Napier's exclusion from Israel, every country throughout the world has the right to determine whom it will or will not allow to enter. That's why they all have border controls. Why should Israel be any different?

In the past - in keeping with a spirit of freedom and democracy which you won't find elsewhere in the Middle East - Israel has allowed freedom of passage, movement and speech to foreigners, some of whom clearly regard themselves as enemies of the state.

These people have taken this for granted; hence Mr Napier's annoyance at being refused entry. It would appear Israel has decided that enough is enough; that those who have demonstrated by word, deed and association that they might abuse this privilege and use it to vilify the state and ferment trouble are no longer welcome.

I'm sorry if Mr Napier feels he was badly treated at the airport - he should see how they treat unwelcome arrivals in other countries, including the UK - but I understand that the authorities had to deal with a number of people they regarded as unwelcome visitors.

Israel has a duty of care to its citizens and those of the Disputed Territories which it currently controls, and has every right to exclude people whom it thinks might undermine this.

Clive Hyman, London

Standing out is mower secure

A ROCK star was reunited with his instrument because the uniquely-shaped carbon fibre guitar aroused suspicions when thieves tried to sell it around Edinburgh (News, July 13).

Also in the News was a story about a lawnmower being stolen from a football club.

To be on the safe side in future, perhaps Pumpherston Juniors should equip themselves with a specially made, uniquely-shaped carbon fibre mower which won't be so easy to flog to green-fingered members of the underworld.

Roger Howden, Dalry Road, Edinburgh