Letters: Stubbing out cigarettes can breathe new life into you

The scientists whose study he describes looked at the behaviours of nearly 500 people over the age of 95 from a specific group - Ashkenazi Jews - and compares them with a control group from the wider population.

The new research found that drinking, smoking and level of physical activity didn't differ very much between those who lived a very long time and the control group.

From this research alone you can't infer that for most people lifestyle factors only make marginal difference to lifespan. By definition, the study looked at people who live a very long time, and are the exception from the norm.

The message from the study is not that if you want to live to be over 100 you should smoke, drink and not exercise (or that it makes little difference), it is that there are rare people who will live to be over 100 almost regardless of what they do.

Putting the findings in context, the larger body of research of which the new study is just one part indicates that, for most people, lifestyle factors do make a very large difference to life expectancy. Sir Richard Doll in his landmark Doctors Study observed an average ten-year difference in life expectancy attributable to smoking.

In Scotland, for those who die from illnesses caused by tobacco in middle age, smoking can rob people of up to two decades of life expectancy, and is a greater risk factor for early death than social class.

Contrary to Mr Monteith's pessimistic assertion that 'if you have genes for cancer, heart disease or other life-threatening dreaded lurgies then there is not much you can do about it', there is a great deal of difference most people can make to their chances of enjoying a longer life in good health.

Sheila Duffy, chief executive, ASH Scotland

Pool will be back better than ever

IN reply to the letter from I Munro (August 2), I sympathise with people's desire to see the Royal Commonwealth Pool open again but I must ask for their continued patience as the building's major refurbishment moves on apace.

This is an extremely complex project which will transform the RCP - an A-listed building - into one of the best aquatics facilities in the UK. Working with such a historic building has presented considerable engineering challenges and the contractor, Graham Construction, is to be congratulated on its hard work and dedication.

On an excellent website (www.rcprefurb.co.uk/) you can find out about the stages of the refurbishment and view photographs taken on site.

The project continues to progress very well and we are on course for it to reopen early in the new year. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to enjoy an even better RCP.

Deidre Brock, Culture and Leisure Convener, Edinburgh City Council

New hotel licence fears unfounded

I AM delighted to clarify the issues involved in the licence application for our new proposals for the SoCo site.

Our investment plans will bring jobs and investment to a high-profile site that has lain derelict for nearly a decade.

The new hotel is proposed to be accessed from South Bridge and not the Cowgate, and the small bar proposed is for hotel residents.

Ibis has operated a residents' bar at its hotel in Hunter Square.

This has operated for many years without difficulties and we would expect the same success for the proposed hotel on the South Bridge.

Andy Jansons, Jansons Property

Kerb would get them on bikes

I DON'T think widening pavements for cyclists (News, August 3) would help at all. Why not extend by building another kerb?

This would leave a path where cyclists would feel safe away from parking cars. I'm sure that would get more people on their bikes.

L Rogers, Ravenscroft Place, Edinburgh