Letters: Steps into the future would have been quicker in past

In any other city it would have been built years ago.

Other delayed projects include the Morrison Street goods yard (40 years) and Canongate and Waterfront developments.

In the past there was the Castle Terrace hole in the ground that lay empty for years, and a world-class theatre that would have rivalled any other city's was scuppered because of comments that it would be a waste of money (sounds similar to the Edinburgh tram project).

Edinburgh had a reputation as a small-minded grey conservative city that was reluctant to change. I hope that is now in the past.

I sometimes wonder how the New Town got built – perhaps the citizens were more enlightened 200 years ago.

George Ritchie, North Gyle Terrace, Edinburgh

Wanted: buses that can read pass

I AM 72, and recovering from a stroke. On three different buses last Friday my concessionary bus pass was refused when the machines on the buses could not "read" it. Neither, apparently, could the drivers. Two of them told me I could pay or walk. The last one retained the card.

These machines will cause huge inconvenience to visitors this summer unless they are removed or improved, or the drivers taught to read.

Dr John Cummins, Blackhall, Brechin

Sad end for film due to parking fee

LAST week I took my sons for a birthday meal and a visit to the cinema at the Omni Centre and was horrified to have car parking charges of 8.20.

This is outrageous for a visit of just over three hours at a time when it is free to park at a meter in the street.

I am prepared to pay a bit more for the convenience of parking in the Omni centre, but not 8.20 for three hours.

In future I will be going to the Cineworld at Fountainbridge where they validate your ticket to give free parking.

Stephen Killen, Alderston Meadow, Haddington

ID cards are now a collectors' item

JOHN Hein shows commendable sympathy to the 15,000 people who were gullible enough to apply for early issue ID cards (Interactive, 28 May). However, his proposal that the cards should continue to retain their validity may not be the most helpful suggestion.

So few of these cards have been issued that they have not begun to establish themselves reliably across mainland Europe. Indeed, some border posts have been flatly refusing to accept the cards, demanding a full UK passport instead.

My best advice, therefore, to anyone who has such a card is to hang on to it very carefully for the time being. For in a short time it is likely to become a limited edition collectors' item and worth much more than its 30 face value cost.

This card is surely destined to become a highly prized token of New Labour's profound folly in attempting to impose compulsory ID cards in the UK. People in this country have never liked these cards, and so the previous ones had to be scrapped in 1952. The same thing has predictably just happened once again.

So do hang on to these cards, and I for one have my 30 ready to offer to the first person who contacts me with a card they wish to sell!

Dr John Welford, NO2ID Edinburgh, Boat Green, Edinburgh

World Cup footy? Not on my telly

AN INVITATION is hereby extended for new members to join the "I'm not going to watch a single one of those infantile games" club, but going to find a pub without a TV instead.

The News would perform a genuine public service by publishing a daily list of bars not screening World Cup matches from South Africa... they are going to be havens of sanity as the rest of the city goes soft.

David Fiddimore, Nether Craigwell, Calton Road, Edinburgh