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Kenny wants to call time on our pubs

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Published Date: 25 January 2008
SURELY, in light of his latest scheme, the ridiculous increase in licensing fees (MacAskill warning over bid to block fees for drinks licences, Evening News, January 22), it is time for our "Justice Minister" Kenny MacAskill to come clean and admit he is on a mission to close all licensed premises in Scotland. Why prolong the agony?
Since the smoking ban two years ago, he has continually lambasted the licensing trade in general, blaming the trade for the drinking culture in Scotland.

Does he really believe that he can stop the consumption of alcohol with his harebrained sche
mes?

It has now clearly become a vendetta and unfortunately, as a result of the individuals who put Mr MacAskill in the position of power from which he now dictates to us all, he will have the last word.

Sheila Fraser, Beveridge Close, Mansfield Park, Dalkeith


We must keep our precious resource

I'M writing to strongly oppose the massive housing proposals on greenbelt land, as recently reported. The greenbelt is a precious resource which is supported by the vast majority of the population. As a parent I believe this should be preserved for future generations. Otherwise our cities and towns will sprawl and merge.

In addition the proposed development at Craigs Road in west Edinburgh would lead to even more traffic in a heavily congested part of the city.

There is development land available elsewhere within the city bypass and ring-road, let's use that instead of eroding this precious green resource outside our ring-road.

Iris Mathers, Craigmount Gardens, Edinburgh


Rules that part the clever from fools

I REFER to the article "Full price Night School charges for Pensioners to be introduced" (Evening News, January 15). In brief, to abolish this entitlement and deprive seniors of cheaper night school education, because it is contrary to the Employment Equality (age) Discrimination Regulations, is a stupid interpretation of these rules.

Have East Lothian Council lost their marbles and not heard the old saying (which I paraphrase) . . . "Rules and regulations are meant to be interpreted by the intelligent and the strict adherence of fools."

I suggest ALL MPs, councillors, government departments and agencies both national and local should use that rule of thumb when applying all legislation.

Frank A Ferri, Newhaven Main Street, Edinburgh


Clear distinction between groups

YOUR readers will no doubt be confused with Neil Johnston's "Wardens fail to use common sense" (Letters, January 23).

Police traffic wardens gave zone parking and yellow lines enforcement over to the city council nearly ten years ago.

Since then, non-police council have carried out this function.

In law, powers and procedures, there is clear distinction between the two groups.

David Legge, manager, Traffic Support Warden Section, Chambers Street, Edinburgh


Tar very much for this repair to road

I WOULD like to congratulate the council and the road repair squad who have filled in the potholes around the St Colme/Ainslie Place area with black tar splayed all over the cobbled road.

It's nice to see they have been so sensitive to the surrounding's and the existing road surface in this part of our highly esteemed "world heritage site". I am sure the tourists will be highly impressed with this skilled work!

John Gray, Stenhouse Drive, Edinburgh


Comments on flats are a likely storey

COUNCILLOR Alastair S Paisley's letter (News, January 18) says: "Council policies are put in place to protect the entire population within the city and hopefully you can rest in your bed at night, knowing that a council policy will prevent a developer building a ten-storey block of flats adjacent to your property...." His comments are either naive or deliberately misleading.

Admittedly he was not one of the councillors who pushed through the multi-storey development at Meggetland playing fields, but I find it hard to believe he hasn't heard about them. Perhaps he should visit Meggetland and have a walk round before patting himself on the back about council policies preventing the building of multi-storey flats overshadowing existing housing.

Garry Robertson, Allan Park Loan, Edinburgh


Strong vow from Strang on climate

CLIMATE change is a serious issue, and at least since the latest IPCC reports, it should be clear that something needs to be done. All the better if Britain takes the lead on this issue – with a strong Climate Change Bill.

When I went to see my MP, Gavin Strang, about strengthening the current version of the Bill before it is passed to the Commons, Mr Strang assured me that he would support a stronger version of the bill, with an improved emissions reduction of at least 80 per cent by 2050. He also agreed strongly that international aviation and shipping will have to be included in the bill.

It is good to see our local politicians taking a lead on this very serious issue.

Jan Hilmar, St Clair Road, Edinburgh


£500m reminder for the opposition

A GENTLE reminder to opposition parties on the Scottish budget that they voted to force trams on the people of Edinburgh at a cost of £500 million.

Andrew J T Kerr, Castlegate, Jedburgh


New centre, but same old stores?

FEW will lament the passing of the St James Centre (News January 23). But no amount of prefixing the buzz phrases "world class" and "iconic" can disguise the fact that the successor development will be filled with the same dreary, ubiquitous high street chain-stores as Edinburgh pursues its lofty ambition to out-shop Glasgow.

If we are serious about reducing Edinburgh's footprint on the world, then creating a nicer-looking emporium to over-consumption will not do. The danger is it will be obsolete within a few short years.

So, by all means let us rethink the site for the 21st century. What about opening up a real dialogue with Edinburgh citizens about what to do with the heart of what, after all, is our city?

Gavin Corbett, Briarbank Terrace, Edinburgh



Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 25 January 2008 10:18 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

eric,

Lothian 25/01/2008 12:37:52
Glasgwegians will be very flattered Edinburgh trying to emulate Glasgow for shopping ,Ill stick to Glasgow for shopping thanks,Its a good 30yr start,We just dont have it through here,
2

TankEngine,

Uphall 25/01/2008 12:43:17
On driving into St Colme/Ainslie Place yesterday, I thought a lorry had spilt its load and not been cleaned up properly. How have the contactors been allowed to get away with this in a “World Heritage Zone”? If this was a member of the publics drive, then the council would probably order it to be removed as an eyesore!
3

The ghost of Harry Lauder,

Edinburgh 25/01/2008 12:46:33
1 - I think the point that Mr. Corbett is trying to make is that the whole St. James site might be something better than just a shopping dominated site. I have some residual affection for John Lewis but the rest is just tat. Just how much shopping do we need to do?
4

Anecdotal,

Edinburgh 25/01/2008 12:54:40
Was it Kenny McAaskill or another MSP who was allegedly fined for urinating in the street after a Scotland v England game? If it was Kenny then perhaps he blames the licensed trade for causing the predicament that led to the conviction!
5

Unimpressed one,

25/01/2008 13:17:42
Jan Hilmer must lead a strange life if she actually went out of her way to insist that we actively stifle future economic growth and revert to a more primitive lifestyle. And all because of the UN!! Sounds to me like she needs a decent education and to get a life.
6

Bub,

edinburgh 25/01/2008 13:29:06
If you look further into it I think you'll find that the whole road at Anslie Place is due to be completely reconstructed this year.
The tar is purely a temporary measure.
7

Sarah B,

Edinburgh 25/01/2008 13:33:42
On the question of increasing licensing fees, my understanding was that this is being proposed so that licence trade contributes to the cost of the problems resulting from excessive drinking.

Until the licenced trade or the police or other interested parties come up with a better solution, I welcome this proposal but do feel that it should only apply to areas where problems arising from excessive drinking actually exist.
8

Bub,

edinburgh 25/01/2008 14:10:24
#10 Scallywag
Live in hope. Die in despair.
9

Jan Hilmar,

Edinburgh 25/01/2008 14:24:30
Dear #6:
Jan Hilmar actually doesn't have such a strange life, and in no way suggests that we go back to a primitive lifestyle. He simply suggests that, instead of sticking our head into the sand and pretending that we can just go on with business as usual, we try to find ways to deal with this problem before the damage done by climate change exceeds any costs incurred by doing something about it.

Sincerely,
Jan Hilmar
University of Edinburgh
10

Richard Lionheart,

25/01/2008 14:46:37
#12 Dear Jan,

It was interesting that following the EC announcement this week for a target of 20% power generation from renewables, that a green activist on NEWSNIGHT admitted that there is no conceivable scenario under which the World can avoid irreversible and catastrophic climate change, no matter what Co2 reduction targets were set.

This is in line with advice given by scientists from countries around the World who pointed this out to the Secretary General of the UN in an open letter:-

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=164002

The message is quite clear. We need to do what people have done through the centuries, adapt to our changing climate!
11

Jan Hilmar,

Edinburgh 25/01/2008 15:23:16
#13 Dear Richard Lionheart,

I appreciate that some people think that climate change is inevitable - these tend to be the same people who, until recently, have been claiming that climate change doesn't exist - but I personally don't think that this is an either/or situation. On the one hand, we need to prepare for living in a warmer climate. On the other hand, we need to make sure that we're not fighting a losing game: if past climate variation tells us anything, it is that warming isn't smooth and gradual. Once temperatures hit a certain threshold, the warming trend can accellerate quite dramatically.

Thus, if we focused only on trying to fight the symptoms rather than the causes (as is frequently done in medicine and politics these days), we will be fighting an uphill battle we cannot possibly win.

Just my 2c worth. I'm not an expert in any way, just have read my fair share of articles and books on the subject.

Sincerely,
Jan
12

Jan Hilmar,

Edinburgh 25/01/2008 15:32:26
#14
I guess that's what it's turning into with the media publishing every scrap of information related to the subject, be it relevant or not.

I encourage you to drown out all the noise from the media, and try to form your own opinion on the subject, rather than jumping on any bandwagons in either direction.
13

BBH,

Edinburgh 25/01/2008 15:55:25
What depresses me about the climate change arguments, regardless of which side one believes, is the focus on the generation of CO2 as being almost exclusively the cause, and humans (generally vehicle drivers) being the worst culprits.

There are worse gases or particulates than CO2 contributing to any "greenhouse effect". Water vapour is worse. Methane is worse. Neither of which are produced in forms that are easily, and measurably, taxable. So governments concentrate on CO2 as it is measurable, and therefore taxable.

If governments really did believe that climate change is able to be influenced one way or the other, they could instruct the culling to extinction of ruminants, removing a much larger contributory factor. Not popular, but we'd get over it.

Ah, but that would remove a source of taxation. Couldn't possibly do that ...
14

Richard Lionheart,

25/01/2008 17:58:46
#15 Dear Jan,

Looks like you need to extend your reading list.

Many pro stop climate change scientists are now moving away from human emitted Co2’s as being the cause of global warming/cooling. In fact many say that trying to stop climate change is as you say a loosing battle, because it is futile. It cannot be done. I do not believe that any scientist of worth would say that the climate is not changing. It is if it stops changing that we are in trouble!

Therefore the Billions of pounds which are being spent lining the pockets of the likes of Al Gore and his Carbon Trading Company, which is set to earn him billions of dollars of the back of UK and EU taxpayers is in fact a misuse of funds which will lead to global poverty, mass unemployment and total misery for the trillions of people who have not got their snouts in the Carbon Trading trough.

For further reading please see:-

http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.Blogs&ContentRecord_id=f80a6386-802a-23ad-40c8-3c63dc2d02cb
15

Richard Lionheart,

25/01/2008 18:15:36
# 17 BBH, You are probably spot on concerning the desire to raise tax revenue.

Sadly, the desire to raise revenue detracts from the reality that the changing climate is having an effect right now on the African Continent and the media/UK government lead pre occupation with Human emitted Co2’s is diverting funds and effort from practical and visible live saving endeavours onto the creation of the new commodity Carbon.

Giving Co2 a trading value is quite a smart move for someone who wants to make billions out of a hitherto untapped market! They will make far more from trading Carbon than they will raise in tax.

 

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