Waste transfer depot would be a rubbish idea

This depot would be as tall as a Victorian tenement block and would be sited on the edge of one of Edinburgh's conservation areas, over which it would loom.

The flow of large lorries in and out of the site would cause traffic congestion as well as noise, light and air pollution. It has been designed to deal with commercial waste from other parts of Scotland rather than Edinburgh's domestic waste, which is treated at Powderhall.

Viridor has appealed against this decision and the matter will be contested in a public enquiry later this year.

The local MSP Kenny MacAskill and MP Gavin Strang both opposed the development, which was rejected by an overwhelming majority of the councillors on the Planning Committee.

It is puzzling, therefore, that Viridor has chosen to appeal. There are other potential sites that if chosen would have no detrimental effect on any community.

Transporting waste from all over Scotland to be dealt with at a few large plants is not ecologically sensible. Waste should be dealt with as near as possible to its source.

A coherent national waste strategy is still being debated by the government.

It would be a great pity if a commercial concern, with profit its primary motive, should distort this important process.

Francis Wraith, East Brighton Crescent, Portobello, Edinburgh

Time for serious debate about aid

IT'S unfortunate that arguments about aid to Africa tend to be over simplified (Harsh truth is that aid hurts rather than it helps, News, 19 May).

Certainly aid is far from being a cure-all for poverty, but neither is it the cause of all Africa's ills as some would argue. Indeed there is clear evidence that over the past decade, properly targeted "smart aid", combined with more effective African leadership, has led to great improvements in people's lives.

In Rwanda, malaria cases and deaths have dropped by two thirds since 2006. This has happened thanks to a widespread distribution of mosquito nets – paid for by effective aid.

Britain is Rwanda's biggest donor – the British people should be proud of what their money has achieved in a country that was torn apart by a genocide just 15 years ago. Those who marched through Edinburgh in 2005 helped make this happen. It has happened in several African countries.

As an African woman living on the continent and working for ONE, the campaign group co- founded by Bono, I tire of lazy generalisations about my continent. Let's have a serious debate on how to make aid work better. Bashing celebrities makes headlines, but it does little to advance understanding.

Edith Jibunoh, senior manager, Africa Outreach, ONE,

Abuja, Nigeria

Be a winner with prize tram contest

SO now it is official. The trams will be late and over budget as you report (News, 20 May).

May I suggest it is now time for the Evening News to run a competition to estimate when they will be completed and at what cost?

Some good cause at, say, the Sick Kids could be the beneficiary of 1 an entry with an estimate of when the trams will be running and how much they will cost, with a tie breaker of where they will go to and from. The prize for the nearest entry could be a ride on the first public service.

John Collie, Drum Brae Park

Festival chiefs have sullied city's name

IT was disturbing to read of the way the organisers of the Edinburgh International Film Festival have capitulated to the pressure from pro-Palestinian activists and rejected the 300 grant from the Israeli Embassy to fund the participation in the Festival of a young Israeli film-maker.

Israel is the only nation in the Middle East to share the values and freedoms of the West and Israel's contribution to the world in the arts, medical science and technology is out of all proportion to its tiny size.

The Festival organisers have sullied the good name of Edinburgh.

Murray Fink, Wells Avenue, Prestwich Manchester

The word is out on diversion signs

VARIOUS signs are in place around Edinburgh warning of diversions with road closures.

The council have provided traffic information signs suggesting "...using an alternate route". Alternate means to interchange regularly or in succession. My understanding is the correct wording should be to use an alternative route meaning the availability of making a possibility of choice.

Alastair Murray, Mid Steil, Edinburgh

How pavement trip fell a little short

I TRIPPED and fell at a zebra crossing in Lothian Road in January. I was taken to A&E at the Royal Infirmary.

I put in a claim to Edinburgh City Council for my glasses, which had been shattered in the fall. I was told I couldn't claim compensation because of where I tripped, which only measured 30mm – the measurement should have been 50mm before they would process the claim!

J Young, Union Avenue, Ayr