Letters: Time for residents to make a racket over unwise cuts

We all know there are going to be cutbacks in these hardened times and I for one am in favour of austere actions to preserve the flimsy economy. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to argue the case for keeping this noise nuisance department open, in some manner, during the week. It's not like the city shuts down every night. Students are partying until the small hours Monday to Friday, and with a gradual increase in the number of unemployed, people are now going out and getting drunk on a more ad hoc basis.

In areas close to the centre of town, where lairy louts and preposterous parties are common due to the proximity of bars/clubs, these people are now going to have to suffer noise without a channel to form complaint. Is this fair? I don't think so.

Seventy per cent of calls may be at the weekend, but we must take into consideration the other 30 per cent that suffer during the week. Depriving them of their only avenue to peace and quiet is not fair, even in an environment of penny pinching. We must, as citizens, make a racket over this.

Jennifer Williams, Dalry

Unappetising double standards

The Botanics boss has a nerve objecting to a little cake stall near his huge John Hope Gateway (Don't let them eat cake, News, September 30).

The visual appeal of the western approach to the Botanics has been utterly ruined by this permanent eyesore not by some temporary food stand.

A walk through Inverleith Park towards the gardens used to be a joy of grass, trees and sky. Now the view ahead is dominated by a building which serves only as a gateway to the gold-sucking goblins of crass commercialism. You can't even enter or leave the Botanics without being forced to make a zig-zag diversion through the goblins' den. Even the educational exhibitions are geared towards getting you to buy something from the shop.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh should be just that - not the Botanic Garden, Restaurant, Cafes, Party Venues, Toy and Gift Shops, Plant and Gardening Accessory Trading Co Ltd.

Alan Murphy, Learmonth Grove, Edinburgh

Delivering a dire warning for PO

In a letter leaked from within the government, Vince Cable raises the prospect of a reduction in minimum service requirements for the Royal Mail. Legislation he plans to introduce would "build in flexibility to amend" these minimum requirements in future.

It is clear that Vince Cable and his Conservative friends will change the minimum requirements for the service to make it attractive to potential investors post-privatisation. This letter belies Lib Dem claims that there would be no change to postal services.

Businesses in Scotland rely upon the services provided by Royal Mail. Any reduction in the current minimum requirements of the Universal Service Obligation will seriously impact on rural areas especially and will undermine efforts to regenerate the rural economy.

Before they went into coalition with the Tories, the Lib Dems claimed to support the future of our postal network. Where do they stand now?

Lesley Hinds, prospective Labour candidate for Edinburgh Western

Festive fatigue setting in already

And so it begins. A mere two-and-a-half months before Christmas, it must be time to break out the tinsel and start practising those carols.

Trudging my way around the supermarket recently I was disappointed, if not totally surprised, to see that shops have already started selling mince pies and other seasonal goods.

Do we really need to have the products of this over-commercialised celebration rammed down our throat even before we're seen off the similarly money-orientated Hallowe'en?

J Cleland, London Road, Edinburgh