Zone idea for the Capital suburbs is just parking mad

I NEVER cease to be staggered at our council's antipathy towards the car owning members of its electorate.

Progressive restrictions on car parking, car park closures and driving generally as well as the extortionate amount charged by car parks and on meters, have apparently forced people who have to drive into town to bring their cars to residential areas and park there.

This is a problem of the council's making.

This latest scheme, to install parking metered spaces in the residential Morningside area, is another in a long list of hare-brained ideas in this quest to seemingly make Edinburgh a car-free city.

As I understand it, we will go from being an area where there is no parking problem, to one where large sections of the street will be out of bounds for residents due to parking meters (even though they'll be paying for the privilege of parking somewhere near their house), yellow lines being introduced, and by the changes to the meter timings in Comiston Road, forcing residents there to park in this area. Not a problem – there's currently room, but there won't be when restrictions are imposed.

We should all look at these CPZs more closely.

The fact that these CPZ areas have had to be rolled out across the city in a progressive wave, is proof positive that this method of parking control does not work.

It turns out that when a CPZ is installed, these demon parkers from elsewhere in the Lothians simply park in the next area where they don't have to pay, thus taking away the residents' parking spaces.

Isn't this the theory that the council uses to keep bringing the CPZs to the next area, and then the next and then the one beyond that?

Plainly it must be obvious by now, as the CPZs are approaching Morningside, that the outsiders are simply not prepared – or not able – to pay to park for a whole day in an area closer to the city centre.

Therefore it is an utterly failed idea.

Jackie Macadam, Craiglea Drive, Edinburgh


Sadly, evolution is going into reverse

IT was disturbing to read your recent article about the demise of honey bees in Trinity. Our local conservation area has always been alive with wildlife.

North Edinburgh is famous for all types of creatures, particularly the rich marine life along the shore. It was this that attracted the founder of modern biology to the area, when he was a student at Edinburgh University.

The young Charles Darwin spent much of his time rockpooling – collecting sea slugs, sponges and polyps. This is where he developed his passion for wildlife, and where he made his first scientific breakthrough, which related to research on local oysters.

In many ways Edinburgh could be said to be the "cradle of evolution". If Darwin had not played truant from college – he would probably have graduated as a doctor. This week we would not be contemplating his theories on evolution (which were unveiled 150 years ago). Next year we would not be celebrating his bicentenary.

The sad thing about "evolution" is that it is going into reverse. Extinction rates are now happening 10,000 times faster than the norm. If we don't wake up soon – it's going to be Destination Dodo Land.

Ian Lutton, Boswall Road, Trinity, Edinburgh


Nightmare at new traffic light junction

THERE are many junctions where traffic lights have been erected that have now become nightmare junctions, but one of the worst must be at the Telford Road, Groathill Road North.

Last week I spent ten minutes and about six changes of lights to finally get through on to Telford Road.

The tailbacks are horrendous where problems did not exist before.

V Radzynski, Colinton Mains Drive, Edinburgh


How construction can build faith

YOUR article on managing budgets to ensure greater public confidence in Scotland's construction projects (Monday, June 30) raised many interesting points.

As area leader for a building company in Edinburgh, I am acutely conscious of our obligation to manage customers' budgets appropriately and responsibly.

The ability to deliver a timely, high quality service within budget is essential to a successful relationship between builder and customer. Key to achieving this is honest, transparent communication between all parties with a clarification of expectations before any work begins on site.

The proof is in the detail; the more planning and foresight that both parties put into a building project, the better. Customers have a responsibility to list all their requirements and review all aspects of their plans before involving a builder. Any subsequent modifications to approved plans may result in lengthy – and therefore costly – delays. Equally, the builders need to ensure they have understood fully the customer's brief and that all areas of the specification will be met in the finished building.

By acknowledging this and incorporating it into projects of all sizes, the construction industry can maintain public confidence in the sector.

Andy Mallice, area leader, Rok Edinburgh


Taking a stance on councillors' chairs

A SENIOR city official complains that council meetings are too lengthy (News, June 23). If the councillors' chairs are uncomfortable the meetings will be short.

D R Watt, Bellevue Place, Edinburgh


Leave these trees where they are

THERE is no justification to either cut down trees or widen the road between Shandwick Place and West Maitland Street.

The road is wide enough for trams, buses and cars, so stop vandalising our city.

CJR Fentiman, Polwarth Gardens, Edinburgh