Letters: There's a Nice example our city could follow in France

Edinburgh doesn't deserve this tackiness in the High Street. The same goes for Princes Street (West End).

This city deserves high standards for cleanliness and presentation. It needs at its helm people with common sense, will and application mixed with the love for one of the most beautiful Capital cities in the world.

Please, do it and the rewards will be countless. Restore Edinburgh to its historical beauty. This city deserves it!

Take Nice in France as an example. While the trams were installed, the city had a great makeover.

Nice was cleaned up, the buildings restored and painted where needed, gardens and fountains created. Place Massena is now a delight and a joy to experience.

Let it be the same for Edinburgh. Do not let this amazing city down!

Viviane Johnston, The Steils, Edinburgh

Referendum must take a back seat

IF Alex Salmond wins a second term in office, will he promise the people of Scotland that his SNP government will not become obsessed in its pursuit of a referendum on independence?

Though I'm not entirely opposed to the notion of an independent Scotland, there are perhaps more pressing issues to be dealt with and the subject of independence should take a back seat until all other projects and problems have been suitably dealt with.

It would be disastrous if the Scots were to be "sold down the river" with an illusory pipe dream of being a rich, independent country when in fact quite the opposite is the case.

If Scotland ever gains its independence this has to be built on solid foundations which will last for decades, if not centuries.

Angus McGregor, Albion Road, Edinburgh

No lack of respect meant to voters

I FEEL I must comment on the letter from Robert Wright (News, April 25), relating to my non attendance at the Millennium Centre hustings.

It was my intention to take part in these hustings. However, I underwent dental treatment shortly before the event was due to take place.

I tried to find a substitute, but no-one was available at short notice. The organiser of the event was informed. It was most certainly not a lack of respect to the local residents or Community Council involved.

Mr Wright also states that "all the literature we get is all about Alex Salmond".

I'm not sure if he has seen my newsletters which have been distributed in the area. I appear on a number of pages commenting on local and national issues.

I have also spent many hours in Muirhouse and Drylaw during this campaign and will be campaigning in these areas before polling day. To suggest that my campaign is based in more affluent areas is absurd.

Colin Keir, SNP candidate, Edinburgh Western

Move would not affect all patients

NO decision has been made to transfer all patients with chest pains to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (Fears for St John's as ERI takes heart cases, News, April 26).

The ERI is the only hospital in south-east Scotland to carry out cardiac catheterisation (angiogram), and all patients from the region are referred there from Borders, Fife and Forth Valley as well as West Lothian for this treatment.

Currently, patients requiring angiogram are admitted to the hospital where they are present as an emergency for a short period before being transferred to the Royal Infirmary.

Under new proposals, patients would be transferred directly to the ERI to reduce the wait to be transferred for treatment and returned to their hospital or discharged.

This would not affect all patients with chest pain, and would only affect those patients who require transfer for cardiac catheterisation.

Jackie Sansbury, Chief Operating Officer for University Hospitals Division