Letters: Safe and friendly security is what airport strives for

These are measures put in place by the Department for Transport to ensure that our random body scanners are just that and that no one group is being unfairly targeted.

The questions have to be asked at every airport that has scanners, not just Edinburgh. All questions are voluntary and we’re disappointed that on this occasion it was not clear to this passenger.

To suggest that it’s just Edinburgh Airport that is involved or that the questions are anything other than voluntary is misleading.

We found it surprising that neither our response, which explains this, nor the response of the Department for Transport which underlines it, was used in the article.

It painted a picture that may have made a good story but was actually misleading to passengers and has unfortunately generated worry and confusion.

In addition, the piece referred to our “controversial” full body scanners providing a “naked” image. This is not true. Our scanners, as reported by the Evening News last year, do not record images, but use cartoon images on which any detected threats are shown.

We try hard make the security at Edinburgh Airport as safe and as friendly as possible.

Gordon Dewar, chief executive, Edinburgh Airport

Action needed on beggars problem

There is no doubt a law should be introduced to ban all beggars from Edinburgh City Centre.

The Scottish Government should be ashamed to admit it would not support such a move. I wonder how often MSPs walk the streets. Beggars are everywhere, from Princes Street to the Bridges to Clerk Street in Newington.

No doubt there is the odd genuine beggar. The problem is it can be difficult to tell who is genuine and who is working a scam. The answer is not to hand over money to any of them. Do we seriously think they will stay around if no-one is giving them money?

In this day and age it is a disgrace that the capital city has beggars on its streets. I can see the day coming where beggars will be sitting on the pavement with their young child in their arms as they do on some of the mainland European cities. It is a growing problem and action is required now.

Allan Stewart, Moredun Park Drive, Edinburgh

Bulldozer action from city council

I WILL be very surprised if the Portobello Park Action Group against the use of the park remains silent. The city council, in my opinion, has once more bulldozed ahead.

When this Private Bill is pursued and appealed against more money will have been wasted.

The track record of the council is not pristine. The elected Scottish National Party has a responsibility to protect our heritage. I am sure PPAG will get a fair hearing.

Bert McCall, John Street, Edinburgh

First class care in city’s hospitals

My grandmother had a fall in her care home which necessitated a stay in the Royal Infirmary, Royal Victoria and Corstorphine hospitals over a six-month period until she passed away in February, a month or so after her 100th birthday.

The care she received in all of the hospitals was first class, especially the prolonged stays in the Royal Victoria, ward 73 and Corstorphine Hospital ward 4.

All the staff who looked after my gran treated her with the upmost professionalism and care. They are a credit to their profession.

Callum Logan, Caroline Terrace, Edinburgh

Trams rolling into the record books

I READ that the tram scheme has reached £776 million with a likely sum to be added of £250 million in interest (News, March 25).

Apparently, in 1969, the USA spent $225 million (which in today’s money equates to  £l billion) on the Saturn V rocket used in the Apollo 11 mission enabling Neil Armstrong to walk on the Moon.

So for the amount being spent on the trams Edinburgh could have entered the space race.

The tram project will no doubt go into the Guinness Book of Records.

It has made our city a laughing stock in the eyes of the rest of the world.

Mrs F Rutherford, Leith