Readers' Best Comments

Council chiefs are to get tough on serial parking fine dodgers, clamping cars and demanding 70 for release, making up for 'lost revenue'. Park your opinions here.

The non-payment of fines is not causing 'lost revenue', unless the council is admitting that the system is about raising revenue rather than deterring bad driver behaviour. Revenue is only 'lost' if it is budgeted for and it doesn't materialise.

Bus user

Why are only "revenue" generating laws approached in this manner ? Examples that could use the same treatment, public drinking, disorder – littering, public urination, criminal damage, graffiti, noise, etc

Jock MacSprog

Car drivers can be incredibly selfish. If these neds can't park properly, they need to pay. Simple.

Iain Mac

Off the road, pub and restaurant chiefs have accused the council of "profiteering" after more than 200,000 was raised by charging them to put tables and chairs on the street. Not much sympathy at the idea that the cost is holding back 'a Continental Edinburgh'.

So how much extra money do all these places make from being allowed to have tables and chairs outside? Anyhow, it's not 'the Continent'. It's Edinburgh. And it's all clutter.

W Adam

Spot on, this is not the Continent where pavements were built to accommodate outdoor dining. Restaurants and parkers think pedestrians have no rights.

John 3

Of course they should pay!! If they had to build an extension to have the extra tables, it would cost them. Why should they be able to increase space and profits for nothing?

Cheesy M

I was on their side when I saw the 200,000, but 341.25 a year, c'mon, tell me they don't rake in that extra with one nice day or weekend that we just had.

Amenemhat

The Council are not charging them enough. It should be at least 1,000 per year per table. The pavement is for pedestrians, not table and chairs or an extension to the premises.

Not Available

These businesses are in effect annexing public land to expand their premises, and as people have pointed out the charges are miniscule.

Logie88

Feeling peckish now . . . minister Scott McKenna has challenged the Church of Scotland's opposition to assisted dying, saying that sometimes helping someone end their life could be the right choice.

Thankfully somebody in the church has a bit of sense.

fiferjohn

The Kirk alongside many other Churches "lost it's way" many years ago and has never moved with the times we live in, that is why attendance is at an all-time low, they have no great inspiring ministers to lead it back.

Auld Reeky

The Church "lost its way" because in some cases it did move with the times. This is a watered-down version of Christianity and why things have gone wrong. If the Church had shown backbone and stuck to their beliefs, things would be so different. You cannot have a "pick and mix" religion. If you believe in one part, you have to believe in all.

Linmaal

Why shouldn't people be able to question and challenge aspects of a religion they feel uneasy about? Should choosing a faith really equate to relinquishing free will?

digestive biscuits V

Amen. Or not.