Letters: Taxis are vital, so let’s not drive them out of Waverley

Firstly, our black cabs are not just on the margins of the city’s transport network and economy – they are at the centre.

The industry supports 5000 jobs and £100 million of turnover annually in Edinburgh. They, and their passengers, deserve better treatment.

Secondly, what message are we sending to visitors to our city, or locals coming home again, when we require them to take the long walk with suitcases uphill and out of the station to a taxi rank that is likely to be more than 200 yards from where they started?

Taxi drivers should be permitted continued access to Waverley station.

The system has worked perfectly well for decades, and no suitable alternative solution is on offer.

Graham Birse, director of policy and communications, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce

Save a prayer for the city council

THERE are many who do not believe in God, fair enough, and there are many who do.

This does not give anybody the right to stop elected representatives from saying prayers before or after council meetings (News, February 14). I trust, therefore, that Edinburgh councillors will heed the wishes of the majority and continue their discussions with the One who created the world.

The only reason we are in a mess is because of those who thought they knew better and wouldn’t stop to listen and learn.

CJR Fentiman, Polwarth Gardens, Edinburgh

It’s time to show true colours, Gina

GINA Davidson launches another one of her political attacks on the city council administration (News, February 16).

She is all too prepared to air her political prejudices without alerting readers as to her political allegiances. At a time when transparency and openness have become bywords on the political scene, is it not about time Gina lifted her skirt of secrecy and provided a glimpse of her Labour petticoat?

Then readers could put her articles in proper perspective.

Councillor Steve Cardownie, leader of the SNP group

Hot air from the cow conference

CERTAIN research scientists are paid from the public purse for mundane and useless research.

I do not include medical research.

A current example of useless research is a project to make cows belch less and “save the planet”.

Scientists from all over Europe will gather in Aberdeen for a conference, which is part of a £6 million “Ruminomics” project.

These researchers, or “freeloaders”, will spout lots of hot air and generate a huge carbon footprint. They claim that a cow has as big an impact on the environment as a medium-sized car.

There are 400 million sacred cows in the world, so why do these scientists not suggest a cull? That would be a fast way to curb methane gas.

Clark Cross, Springfield Road, Linlithgow

Working hard on those potholes

MARTIN Hannan draws attention to the number of potholes in the city’s road system (News, February 14).

However, independent assessment shows that the percentage of our road network requiring repair has dropped from 50 per cent to just over 31 per cent in the last six years and the council has also improved its position from 31st out of 32 councils to 11th.

This reflects the fact that the amount spent by the council on roads and pavements since 2007 has more than doubled.

In fact, we have also just agreed to spend £55 million over the next four years on the city’s roads.

Of course there is still more work to be done, to deal with the enormous backlog of repairs needed after decades of neglect, but we are determined to make real progress.

Cllr Robert Aldridge, environment leader, Edinburgh City Council