Letters: Scotland should expect no rail help from Westminster

If we vote to become an independent country next year, why should they?

Edinburgh and Glasgow’s local authorities claim that if Scotland fails to become part of the high-speed network, the nation’s largest cities would face a huge economic disadvantage.

Which is precisely what the rest of the UK would want in a foreign competitor.

No Westminster government in its right mind would act to make an independent Scotland a stronger economic competitor than it might otherwise be.

International trade is war by other means – and we had better get used to it.

Mine’s black, by the way – and no sugar.

David Fiddimore, Nether Craigwell, Calton Road, Edinburgh

Turbine farce is a Salmond ego trip

That anti-democracy party, the SNP, trample all over people in their quest for wind turbines to achieve their ludicrous and unnecessary renewables targets, when most of the countries in the world ignore them and grow their economies.

The whole point of turbines was to reduce CO2 emissions, but several scientific studies have shown that the savings are minuscule to zero.

The Scottish Government has even pressurised local authorities to alter their planning blueprints to allow even more wind turbines so there is no chance that this government will pay any attention to health or environmental issues.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has said no turbines should be built within two kilometres of homes.

She also suggested that the Government has “overshot” its own energy targets and could be producing 134 per cent of electricity from renewables before long.

So where are these electricity surpluses going to go? Into the ground or sold at a loss as is happening in Denmark?

England certainly will not want expensive wind electricity, especially when they can get cheap nuclear from France. One must conclude this whole farce is a Salmond ego trip.

Clark Cross, Springfield Road, Linlithgow

Old must unite to make an impact

ACCORDING to the Tory/Liberal government, because I am now old I am a drain on the economy, a burden on the nation.

Their solution is to ease that burden by restricting what I can buy, by allowing drastic price rises of the items most needed, gas and electricity. This continued lowering of the quality of life will lead to an earlier death for many.

It would seem whatever hardship is imposed, little is being done. But by adding my voice to yours, we can together change things.

Of all people, the elderly know this is a basic truth. It is only through a collective voice that any progress will be made.

This collective voice can be expressed in many ways, through pensioners’ organisations, forums and trade unions to councillors, MSPs and MPs, demonstrating on issues of concern, even calling for a boycott of stores that are pushing prices up too steeply.

As the number of elderly people is growing, so is the power of their vote and it is essential we use it. All politicians must be made aware they cannot ignore or sideline our serious concerns.

A Delahoy, Silverknowes Gardens, Edinburgh

Go underground for tunnel vision

Edinburgh City Council’s consultation regarding the replacement for Portobello High School ends tomorrow.

As a recently retired teacher of 36 years’ experience in the existing school, it strikes me that the group who are opposed to the new school being built on Portobello Park are only in favour of that outcome. Any other option will do: to date I’ve counted six.

Here’s two more: build the new school on stilts/reclaimed land on Seafield or just get rid of the whole problem of 1400 noisy, litter-dropping, polluting pupils, plus staff, by building the school underground. Now that would preserve green space.

Andrew McGeever, former teacher at Portobello High School