Letters: Sympathy for firms haunted by tram works 'ghost town'

We have taken every step possible to mitigate this with a number of measures, including making 2 million available to support small businesses throughout the city along the length of the tram route.

We have been working closely with local businesses in the West End to help promote the area, and as such we have invested heavily in marketing campaigns amongst other things. As part of our assistance to local businesses, we have also provided logistics teams to ensure that deliveries can be made to the many shops, restaurants, hotels and bars.

Unfortunately, the nature of the work being undertaken on Shandwick Place and the West End is somewhat different to that undertaken on Princes Street and in other areas of the city in that we need to maintain access at all times to shops on both sides of the street as well as maintaining pedestrian access throughout the work.

We will continue to work closely with the local business community to minimise the impact of the tram works in the area and in the meantime thank them for their continued patience.

Mandy Haeburn-Little, director of communications & customer services, Edinburgh Trams

Price hikes not as steep as feared

I AM writing to correct a couple of errors relating to the story 'Price hike for city services to raise 3.8m' (News, 12 February). Firstly, the rate of 12 for voluntary sector day centres is not an average but the highest rate – the average is still above the new council rate but is only 6.61.

The error was on my part and not your reporter. The second error was in your editorial where it is stated that the council is doubling home care charges. We are increasing these from 11.50 to 12.50.

I hope that clears up any confusion.

Councillor Paul Edie, City of Edinburgh Council

Home helps care about their work

WITH reference to your story 'Home helps forced to give OAPs cold food' (News, 16 February), I would like to our re-assure service users, their carers and family members that we put time and care into the preparation of meals.

If there are concerns about any aspect of the home care service, we will always investigate and make improvements where needed.

Home helps will always prepare appetising and nutritious meals where needed.

We continue to invest more than ever in home care services. It's a top priority for us and I'm confident that our staff provide a quality service.

Bryan Chatham, head of sector services (inc. home care), City of Edinburgh Council

Tories should fear SNP threat at polls

I AGREE with much of what Sophie L Anderson says about the Tories and mixed messages (Letters, 16 February).

However, I don't really understand where David McLetchie is coming from. David Cameron is, however, running scared and telling outright lies.

When we go to the polls, it isn't about choosing who is going to be the prime minister. It is about choosing a member to represent our constituency in the Westminster parliament.

Between 1979 and 1992, Scotland voted Labour in the vast majority but did it have any effect? None at all. We still had our industry decimated and the illegal poll tax foisted upon us.

Between 1974 and 1979, however, look at the effect 11 SNP members had. Harold Wilson's government, and the Callaghan government that followed, were throwing money – ok, it was our own money from North Sea oil – at us. Imagine what 20 or 25 SNP MPs could achieve.

With a large SNP representation, you can bet your bottom dollar constitutional change would suddenly become mainstream policy.

Malcolm Brown, Lamancha, West Linton

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