Letters: Campaign group remains committed to saving park

We have at no time declared a preference for building on Brunstane (or any other) Park, but are very keen that the council consider alternative sites. Perhaps that is where the misunderstanding has arisen.

If Mr Wilson reads the recent council report he will see that the list of alternative sites includes the existing school site and also the Scottish Power site at Baileyfield Road, which is immediately available and would allow a new school to be built in the heart of the community, without the need for a decant.

Unfortunately the council remains committed to building on Portobello Park, despite the recent Court of Session ruling, significant ongoing legal hurdles, time delays and financial costs, and has voted to confirm that this is its first choice (although this vote was not carried unanimously).

Portobello Park Action Group are not planning any embarrassing U-turns, and remain fully committed to preserving Portobello Park. We’re not sure what U-turn Mr Wilson was anticipating, but would like to reassure him that we will continue to oppose any proposed legal action to overturn the clear statement from the Court of Session that under current law the school cannot be built there. We believe that there are other suitable sites available. We are confident that eventually Edinburgh City Council will also accept this position, but we just hope it doesn’t waste too much time and money before they do so.

Alison Connelly, Portobello Park Action Group

Crucial months coming for city

I REFER to your article about Marketing Edinburgh (News, October 25). Our relationship with Marketing Edinburgh helps us to work with other city stakeholders to reach common economic objectives.

The support of so many city institutions and businesses at the launch event of Marketing Edinburgh’s new winter campaign this week was uplifting.

It is crucial that we promote the city in the coming months and although Edinburgh has been shown to be reasonably resilient, we all need the next few months to be economically successful if Edinburgh is to meet the challenges ahead.

Attracting visitor spend into the city over winter with an eye to creating and retaining jobs and encouraging investment is a real objective. That is why we will pause for reflection early in the new year, to assess how this winter campaign has contributed towards meeting those economic targets, before planning the next steps in ensuring the ongoing success of the city we all love.

Andrew Burns, leader, Edinburgh City Council

Bizarre choices 
of public bodies

The decision-making processes of public bodies must be really rather bizarre.

For instance, it has just been announced that the death tourism company, Dignitas, has assisted 127 Scots to commit suicide in the last decade – the A9 can do much better than that, which, no doubt, is the reason for it largely being left out of Transport Scotland’s list of reduced speed limits proposed for A roads right across Scotland.

And as I returned to central Edinburgh from the north on Thursday I drove past gangs of road workers repainting the double yellow lines and parking restriction indicators, in preparation for the traffic wardens’ annual Christmas feeding frenzy.

They had to work their way around the numerous pot-holes of course, which will remain unfilled, or jerry-filled, throughout the winter.

David Fiddimore, Calton Road, Edinburgh

Playing field must be level for all

I AGREE with Jenny Graham (letters, October 24) that there should be a mature debate over the referendum issue without insults such as calling the First Minister “a liar” and the other name calling by the No campaigners.

Unfortunately the recent BBC TV Question Time debate on independence from Glasgow was not balanced as the three pro-Union panellists were allowed to speak for nine minutes whereas Nicola Sturgeon only got two minutes to put the case for independence.

The SNP Nato motion was a terrific debate which illustrates how democratic the SNP is when compared to the lack of debates at other conferences.

Calum Stewart, Montague Street, Edinburgh