Readers' Best Comments

Cobbles in the Old Town have begun to sink under the weight of traffic.

One of the many valid arguments against building the Holyrood parliament was that the area it now occupies at the bottom of the Royal Mile keeps Edinburgh Castle, High St and St Mary's St in place. Digging and foundations work could cause subsidence in later years. Obviously such a theory was nonsense. Would be funny if it all slid down and obliterated the parliament!

Gridlocked

I wish to God they would just remove all of these cobbles and surface the roads suitably for 21st century traffic. I'm sick of bouncing about in the back of a taxi, or trying to negotiate my own car through the various valleys and holes. Okay, so it's "heritage". Big Deal! This is 2010 – move on.

Curious Yellow

At least with cobbles you don't get the pot holes we have with tarmacked roads.

aleex

You have no sympathy for parents trying to get their kids into out-of-catchment primaries.

Stop moaning, you are lucky to get your kids into schools in the city, in some countries they have to walk for miles.

The Real Alfonsa Pedrosa

If you're not in catchment you shouldn't get your kids into a school. If everyone had to send their children to the most local school then balance would be restored and we'd get the right mix of kids from the various backgrounds in each, which will benefit everyone, even the snobs.

JFW

Nearest school, first and every time. If that doesn't fit into the snobbish parents' life plans, then they can feel free to pay for a "public" school of their choice.

Speedy Gonzales

There were mixed views over Unison's campaign to keep the council's services in the public sector.

Unison are a bunch of pirates, our city is not for sale because we are running it into the ground.

The Real Alfonsa Pedrosa

Anne Moffat. Jim Devine. Both Ex-Unison. "Bunch of pirates" agreed; expenses, what expenses? I hope council workers take a close look at the poor bin men, industrial action will only turn public opinion against them and speed up the use of private firms.

Thinner Bob 79

Tell you what Unison, if your members do a decent day's work, 37.5 hours a week on their basic salary, then we'll be more supportive of your members. Incidentally, anything over their basic wage is called overtime, and is not a right!

aleex

Public services should mean just that. At least with the council you have a degree of control. I would not be happy with my council tax being paid to shareholders who don't give a stuff if you receive the service.

Xena – Warrior Princess