Letters: Van ban would hurt those who use vehicles socially

I feel compelled to write on the issue of traffic in Holyrood Park (Holyrood ban on white van man to be driven home, News, February 1).

While I acknowledge that commercial vehicles should not be in the park, I would like to remind the park authorities that many people like myself use vans for social, domestic and pleasure purposes, and therefore they are not commercial vehicles.

If the park is keen on banning larger vehicles then they will have to display clear and properly legal signs as indicated in the Highway Code perhaps such as the "Cars only" sign.

I certainly don't think it is the best use of police time to be stopping almost every vehicle to find out if they should be in the park or not. At least with proper legal signage then every driver will know where he or she stands.

I also note there are concerns that large and heavy vehicles cause more damage to the road structure, kerbs, traffic islands and so on. Perhaps this is the case, but is this not the reason why motorists pay road tax?

As a road tax payer I believe that I should have a right to drive on the roads of the UK as I see fit.

If the bosses of Holyrood Park want to ban vehicles or certain classes of vehicles then perhaps the money that is given to them for the upkeep of the roads and infrastructure throughout the park should be cut accordingly.

Alastair Macintyre, Webster Place, Rosyth

Labour wants to hold Scots back

FOR some unfathomable reason it appears Labour MSPs want to hold Scotland back instead of assisting it to progress.

They are not only against helping small businesses, but are encouraging underage drinking by voting against the Bill put forward by the Scottish Government for a minimum price for alcohol, despite their colleagues at Westminster being in favour of it.

Sue Swain, Tyme Cottage, Innerwick, Dunbar

People power is needed in nation

I'M amazed at how long it's taken people to realise things will never be the same again, whatever Government is in "power", and that many volunteers will become essential soon to run vital services.

There's no point us going on about lazy, incompetent, money-wasting councils and the dysfunctional corrupt Government and bankers; the damage is here already.

It seems to need "people power" now. Not revolution, but revolutionary.

John Addison, Roslin, Midlothian

Planning system must be upheld

I REFER to your article "Just let it lie" (News, January 27). Every appeal decision letter is carefully scrutinised by the council's planning service, especially where an action has not been upheld by the Scottish Government reporter, in order that we might learn from them.

In some cases, this may lead to changes to policy or to working practices. In other cases, where we feel that the reporter has failed to handle the matter correctly in terms of the statutory legal tests, the council will seek to challenge that decision in the Court of Session.

This is important because if these decisions are unchallenged they are then quoted as precedent to allow others to carry out similar developments, thus undermining the integrity of the planning system.

To make such a challenge is not a misuse of public funds by Edinburgh City Council.

In this case the department sought legal advice which endorsed our view that the decision was flawed and failed to address the issues correctly.

Ministers chose not to contest our challenge, the enforcement notices stand and the council's legal costs will be met by the Scottish Government.

Councllor Jim Lowrie, planning convener, Edinburgh City Council

Will democracy come here too?

DAVID Cameron told Egyptian President Mubarak that he should listen to the people.

Good, so when do we get a referendum on the EU?

Clark Cross, Springfield Road, Linlithgow