Letters: Spend cash on road repairs, not stating what's obvious

Spending 9 million on 63 overhead road gantries to cover 13 miles of road leading towards the new Forth Crossing (News, June 9) would be a complete and utter waste of public funds.

The gantries are supposed to be part of the essential traffic management system. However, as we all know from the current Forth Road Bridge, these gantries are more of a traffic hindrance than anything else.

Can any driver or person in authority explain to me why there are signs flashing on the A90 southbound every morning slowing drivers to 50mph when there is absolutely no need for doing so? A speed of 60mph or even 70mph would be more appropriate for this section of road.

Then there are the constant stupid messages displayed such as "When driving in winter check your tyres" or "When driving in winter check your fuel". Surely any sensible driver should be checking these things constantly and not just in winter?

Instead of having all these fancy traffic management systems, why not just allow motorists to drive to the conditions without hindering them?

Why did I get a driver's licence? Because someone examined me and deemed me fit enough to get behind the wheel and make appropriate decisions regarding driving, therefore I already know to slow down if it is busy or to check my tyres on a regular basis without signs flashing to tell me to do it.

Perhaps this 9m would be better spent on repairing the existing Forth Road Bridge or filling in the countless potholes across Edinburgh.

Alastair Macintyre, Webster Place, Rosyth, Fife

Poll will point to poster prompts

THE by-election to replace councillor David Beckett will tell us something about the recent council decision to ban lamp-posters during elections.

Turnouts at by-elections are after all traditionally lower than at "normal" polls, so if the numbers voting to elect for Edinburgh Central are lower than usual, it will be a sign that the new ban is having a negative effect on democracy in Edinburgh therefore it will be time for councillors to think again.

Gavin Fleming, Grassmarket, Edinburgh

Stick to story or leave film alone

HOW sad that Stephen Fry feels obliged to touch the forelock to the Political Correctness Brigade (or the film distributors) in volunteering to change the name of Guy Gibson's dog in his proposed remake of the 1955 film The Dambusters (New, June 11).

This is revisionist history - no matter how noble the cause, or small the change.

Thanks to Stephen we'll find we have a significant percentage of a generation or two growing up thinking the dog, and the codeword its name generated, were "Digger" instead of . . . well; that other name.Changing the word does not change the history - it merely misleads - and if Stephen doesn't like the history he should leave the film alone.

David Fiddimore, Nether Craigwell, Calton Road, Edinburgh

NHS takes reports very seriously

IN response to your article "We can't help being perfect" (News, June 8), I would like to reassure your readers that NHS Lothian takes the management and delivery of our PFI contract with Consort Healthcare at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary very seriously.

We have measures in place to ensure that reports and performance scores are a true reflection of the service and physical condition of the hospital.

For example, we carry out independent audits on a regular basis, which are measured against Consort's own performance reviews.

If any areas or services fail to reach the required standards, Consort has seven days to make the required improvements. Our providers are robustly held to account when any areas or services fail to reach the high standards expected and required.

This audit and monitoring system has been noted as best practice and rolled out by a number of PFI sites throughout the UK.

George Curley, Acting Director of Facilities, NHS Lothian