Forth's in Boogie blunder land after shake-up of staff

I WAS shocked to read in the Evening News that Forth One's excellent breakfast show is being axed (Forth One clears its decks as major reshuffle announced, August 27).

Boogie will be losing his Jill, and Dingo will be shunted into the background. I'd like to ask the new boss Duncan Campbell what has possessed him to ruin the best show on the station. He seems to think that a Forth 2 presenter will attract more of an audience than Jill; I'd like to know just how this will happen?

Everyone at work today has been discussing the loss of Jill and the completely unnecessary changes. Why would you change a ratings winner? I myself am a great fan of the show and have been on Boogie on the Boat three times and am booked up for the next one in three weeks. I trust that Jill, Mark Martin or Yasmin Zemmoura will not now be on board, which will be disappointing.

The time has come for somebody to do something about these suits coming into our beloved local radio stations and ripping the heart and soul out! We as listeners will vote with our ears and switch over to the likes of Real Radio where they at least the presenters have fun, although not with a local accent! Go away Bauer Media and leave our Forth One alone!

Sarah Saunders, Minto Street, Edinburgh

Don't waste chance in garbage debate

NOW that waste giant Viridor has had its plans for a loading facility at Portobello thrown out, what chance is there that the people of Dunbar will reject the other half of their proposal, a huge incinerator planned for the town?

It is notable that elsewhere in the UK, Viridor has held off from applying for planning permission for incinerators until local authorities have drawn up waste disposal plans.

In East Lothian, however, they have come up with a proposal twice as large as required with scant regard for the opposition of the local community. Many locals doubt the safety claims made for the plant, which will be a huge and unsightly blot on the landscape.

A public meeting at Dunbar's Grammar School next Tuesday night must demonstrate to Viridor the need to allow local people to decide for themselves, how their waste should be managed.

Michael Lloyd, Stanley Place, Dunbar, East Lothian

Fold up to assist wheelchair users

WITH reference to wheelchair and buggies on the buses my husband has been confined to a wheelchair for 41 years, he was delighted when low-floored buses arrived though it's getting harder to get on because of the buggies, sometimes full-sized prams. The point parents are forgetting is these buses were made for wheelchair users.

Before these buses were introduced there was no choice but to fold the buggy. This needs to be sorted. One answer would be to let people know if a wheelchair user needs on the bus they must fold up the buggy.

Mrs Jean McBain, Western Harbour Way, Edinburgh

Spirit of the streets should get support

I WAS happy to read in Hazel Mollison's column on Thursday about her positive experiences of living in Leith, and that community spirit is still as good as ever, with neighbours looking out for each other.

I do wonder how much longer that community spirit will exist as we see our Labour MP voting to close post offices like Elm Row and our Lib Dem/SNP councillors, closing schools like Bonnington, with others under threat.

Schools and post offices are vital in a community, and it's a shame to see our elected politicians who should be supporting and fostering this community spirit that Hazel speaks so highly of attacking it instead.

Iain McGill, West Annandale Street, Edinburgh

Great postal service has been destroyed

THE six weeks consultation to close post offices is a sham.

The Labour Government is to blame, they took away services that the Post Office provided such as road tax, TV licence, stamps and the payment of pensions, which are now paid into bank accounts, and many more services.

Labour should take a good hard look at themselves, it's all to save money.

We also see the Royal Mail will shed another 35,000 jobs as well. Bosses Alan Crozier and Alan Leighton should call it a day, they have destroyed one of the best postal services in the world.

They have cut deliveries and shed 40,000 jobs already. Labour are a sham, let's get rid of them.

Peter Snow, Broughton Road, Edinburgh

Paying the bill for petty-minded MSP

DO George Foulkes MSP and his publicly funded staff have nothing better to do with their time than ask pointless questions about how many journeys First Minister Alex Salmond has made by train?

I don't know which is more annoying, the pettiness of Lord Foulkes and his determination to find fault in the SNP Government, or the fact that as a taxpayer, I'm having to foot the bill for this nonsense.

Gavin Fleming, Webster's Land, Grassmarket, Edinburgh

Mystery of Capital's own Steptoe & Son

OLDER Evening News readers may recall what was probably Edinburgh's original "Steptoe & Son".

It was a small "rag and bone" merchant in Fountainbridge called Asa Wass, whose premises were only a stone's throw from the boyhood home of Sean Connery.

I have two friends who have been arguing for years about the exact locality of the yard (I think it was a small close with an arched front).

One friend is sure it was on the south side of Fountainbridge to the left of the top of Grove Street. The other friend says it was to the right of the top of Grove Street.

Perhaps a News reader can provide the answer the question which has been argued over many years.

Ian McLaren, Bramdean Rise, Edinburgh