Tag: letters

Letter: Clever and cunning Tories?

Dear Editor

Cameron has called for further benefit cuts after the next General Election; this would cause more poverty and misery. It seems an incredible call given the widespread opposition to the cuts now happening, but remember he is a Tory politician and they are said to be clever and cunning operators.

Why would he, at this moment, make such a statement? I believe he thinks he can work the odds in the next General Election by giving the Lib Dems political ammunition to oppose the cuts, figuring out the Lib Dems will gain votes – and in doing so leaving the possibility of a Tory/LibDem-dominated hung parliament again.

I think in this case we have to delete the word ‘clever’ and leave ‘cunning’.

Dream on, Cameron!

A Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Letter: Proud parents

Dear Editor

I would be grateful if you can print a piece on my sixteen year old daughter Gillian, of whom we are very proud. She got an ‘A’ exam result for Art and Design and now has a full-time place at Telford College.

I enclose a picture she took on her mobile while in South Queensferry then painted it onto canvas.

P White

Easter Drylaw Avenue

Letter: This is a rubbish service!

Dear Editor

We residents in Granton Crescent sheltered housing are writing to complain about the communal paladin bins not being emptied regularly, and when we phone they say they will put it through as a special uplift – but nothing happens!

Sometimes they are not emptied for at least three weeks and the bin men complain about the rubbish lying around in the bin store which they are having to clean up! The driver said sometimes our pallet bins are not on his list – also we are told that our bins would be emptied by the morning squad and not the afternoon squad.

Furthermore, I have asked for fourteen years for the bin store cupboards to be cleaned, as the stench coming from it is unbearable and is travelling into our kitchens.

M McGhee (and neighbours)

Granton Crescent

Letter: Who Cares?

Dear Editor

So much has been spoken and written about Care; whether in hospital, at home or care home. In the light of investigations and inquiries and some awful revelations there seems to be an agreement that a huge problem exists, and with an ageing population it is a growing one which must be tackled now. Good caring, in all it’s forms, cannot be done on the cheap.

Inadequate funding and gross under-staffing for the work needed is the reality: the exiting staff with best possible intentions cannot give the time and care,both physically and, in particular, the mental attention needed by an individual.

No-one knows the future health needs of ourselves or our families but we can make sure there is an excellent National Health Service: fully trained, fully staffed and fully funded, giving caring care and dignity to our loved ones in their time of need.

A Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Letter: Focus needed on 'mid-market rent' housing

Dear Editor

I write in response to the survey by Shelter Scotland showing that one in five young couples have delayed starting a family due to not being able to get on the property ladder. The charity says this highlights how the lack of safe, affordable social housing is impacting every level of society.

As the property market continues to struggle, many people who once would have thought about buying simply cannot and are being pushed into renting. A soar in the number of ‘reluctant renters’ has pushed rental prices, already renowned for being very high in Edinburgh, beyond reach of many of the city’s key workers.

With the average rent for a two bedroom property in Edinburgh currently at over £700 per month, and over £900 in the city centre, people on modest incomes working in roles such as nursing, teachers and youth and charity work, would find it very difficult to afford a safe and secure tenancy in a modern and well-equipped home.

This is why, in addition to providing more social housing, there now also needs to be a focus on supporting this group through the recently formed ‘mid-market rent’ model. At Port of Leith Housing Association, of the 500 properties we plan to build in the next three years around half of these will be available for this category.

The need for affordable housing is at its most pressing for a generation. The average wait for a social rented home is now counted in years rather than weeks or months and the problem is growing. To deal with the remaining backlog alone, it would take approximately 20 years. These figures may seem an insurmountable task but they only take into account those who are eligible for social housing. We estimate there are thousands in Edinburgh who would benefit from mid-market rent homes.

Pricing people into dilapidated properties will only, in the long run, likely price them out of cities. It also creates a real disparity and does not encourage vibrant, mixed communities that are essential for the ongoing success and wellbeing of communities.

Keith Anderson

Chief Executive, Port of Leith Housing Association

Constitution Street, Edinburgh

 

 

Letter: Focus needed on ‘mid-market rent’ housing

Dear Editor

I write in response to the survey by Shelter Scotland showing that one in five young couples have delayed starting a family due to not being able to get on the property ladder. The charity says this highlights how the lack of safe, affordable social housing is impacting every level of society.

As the property market continues to struggle, many people who once would have thought about buying simply cannot and are being pushed into renting. A soar in the number of ‘reluctant renters’ has pushed rental prices, already renowned for being very high in Edinburgh, beyond reach of many of the city’s key workers.

With the average rent for a two bedroom property in Edinburgh currently at over £700 per month, and over £900 in the city centre, people on modest incomes working in roles such as nursing, teachers and youth and charity work, would find it very difficult to afford a safe and secure tenancy in a modern and well-equipped home.

This is why, in addition to providing more social housing, there now also needs to be a focus on supporting this group through the recently formed ‘mid-market rent’ model. At Port of Leith Housing Association, of the 500 properties we plan to build in the next three years around half of these will be available for this category.

The need for affordable housing is at its most pressing for a generation. The average wait for a social rented home is now counted in years rather than weeks or months and the problem is growing. To deal with the remaining backlog alone, it would take approximately 20 years. These figures may seem an insurmountable task but they only take into account those who are eligible for social housing. We estimate there are thousands in Edinburgh who would benefit from mid-market rent homes.

Pricing people into dilapidated properties will only, in the long run, likely price them out of cities. It also creates a real disparity and does not encourage vibrant, mixed communities that are essential for the ongoing success and wellbeing of communities.

Keith Anderson

Chief Executive, Port of Leith Housing Association

Constitution Street, Edinburgh

 

 

Letter – Forgotten Estate?

Muirhouse and Pennywell will be regenerated as part of the council’s 21st Century Homes initiative, but Muirhouse resident Robert Pearson has written to the city council expressing concerns over the current state of the area:

I feel it necessary and appropriate to email you. I have lived in Muirhouse for eight years and have seen a steady decline in the area. Most recently the flats on Muirhouse Avenue were brought down to make way for the so called 21st century homes. No work has started since these flats where demolished months ago, instead you felt it necessary to plant some sort of wild flowers. These have never been maintained and as a direct result we now have a large open area which has now been taken over by weeds in excess of 4ft in height. If maintained correctly the area could be used by local children until such time the building work starts.

I made contact with my councillor regarding this matter but I feel I need to chase it up myself; I fail to understand why 21st century feel its appropriate to leave the area in such a mess. I know Muirhouse is not the most pleasant area but you’re certainly not helping.

There is a path which kids are expected to walk along to and from school which runs from Muirhouse Park to Muirhouse Avenue; this is overrun with weeds either side, flies, slugs and snails. Whilst I understand this can’t be totally prevented, this is something I would expect on a nature trail not on a walk way in the middle of a housing estate. So why is this happening, I ask? I’ll explain why: it’s because we have substantial amount of weeds either side.

I truly believe that we live in a forgotten estate, I think it would be beneficial for you to visit the area to understand my concerns. Simple resolution: cut the weeds down and a general clean up of area.

I am more than happy to meet up and discuss in person, I have photographic evidence if you require.

I await a prompt reply

Robert Pearson

 

Letter – Stairwell fire

Dear Editor

You might be aware of the fire that took place on Tuesday (14 August)  in the back stairwell of the middle block of houses in Royston; a stairwell I may add that is populated by families with small children – we can all just be grateful that it happened during the day and was spotted and contained.

Although I am not aware of how the fire started it would have required materials for it to get going.

Last year I complained to the Edinburgh North office of how a culture of tipping and the accumulation of materials was taking over the back gardens of Royston and it would not be a leap to surmise that the stairwells might be affected by this culture of people getting rid of an excess of materials from their houses into the bottom of stairwells.

Given the demographic of people in the Royston area there will be people who can not afford for items to be uplifted by the council or hire vans to take them away or have no cultural awareness of the etiquette of living in a communal stair in a city.

It would be interesting for someone in the council to do the arithmetic on how much it takes to do a free uplift compared to how much it is going to cost to fix a back stairwell that has been fire damaged? Or how much it takes to fix the problem of a culture of fly tipping taking over?

Maybe some sort of inspection of the state of the stairwells is required throughout that area to asses the potential to prevent any future incidents like this happening again.

I make this suggestion as it would appear by the nature of the questions asked by the police officer who knocked on my door and the neighbours’ doors that the police are looking for someone who was seen running from the scene at the back of the gardens shortly after the fire was started.

Secondly there is now a culture of people smoking at their back stairwell doors in the last few years and if they are not extinguishing cigarettes properly there is the potential for more fires as well if people are storing or tipping materials.

 

Padraig O’Neill

Pilton Drive North

 

Letter – Caring for our NHS

Dear Editor

The NHS will care for everyone in the UK whoever and wherever they are; it is our most valuable public service and must remain so.

We are told people are living longer and therefore the workload of the NHS will grow; it follows there must be an increase in staff, fully trained in all aspects of care. It is obvious the existing staff – who are already under great pressure to maintain the service – would not be able to take on extra work and maintain the quality of both physical and mental care that is needed.

I hope those who view the NHS as a drain on the nation will come to realise that no-one is able to predict their needs as one gets older.

There are uncaring and reactionary people who say we cannot afford a comprehensive national service. If we are a caring society we can – and must – do just that.

A Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens

Letter – My Tears

Dear Editor

My tears are for all children, women and men who are suffering extreme poverty and starvation.

My tears are for all animals, birds and wildlife.

My tears are because of all the cruelty and the destruction of trees and natural habitat.

But my tears are not tears of despair, they are tears of knowing how different things could be.

We have allowed a relatively few powerful financial organisations to control and exploit – with unbelievable callousness – people, animals and the natural environment for their private profit.

These same people created the biggest financial mess ever seen worldwide and are now passing it on to everyone.

This “system” must be changed.

Wealth created by the work of people must be used for the benefit of all people; we would then be able to deal with all these terrible problems.

A Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens