Readers' Best Comments

Better parking, chemists offering mental health advice and a fundraising drive for public art provoked debate

Good news! It's easier than ever to park in the city centre. Bad news! It's because nobody's shopping there anymore.

Why would you even bother going to Princes Street nowadays anyway? Ocean Terminal, the Gyle, Newcraighall, Livingston all have the same shops and free parking.
Oh for the banter

BORING
Council Insider, Council HQ

It may seem boring to you but as someone living about 25 miles out I can confirm I now visit much less often because of traffic and parking.
Balliol II, Dunbar

The reason for this is obvious to anyone who has been to the city centre recently and is not deaf, blind and stupid. Who really wants to visit a city centre that looks like a compound at Guantanamo Bay? Scrap the trams now and let's start re-building our city. In any case, because of this, we can expect to see the number of parking spaces being reduced, charges to increase and enforcement to be redoubled. After all, they can't loose out on their cash can they?
Alternative (High-Octane) Fuel Head, Edinburgh

If I want a cheap kilt or a mobile phone contract upgraded I'll go into town. Other than that, there's not much else.
eDUCATIon

Princes Street is so much pleasanter to walk down now, as is the whole New Town. Less parking spaces, increased charges and more enforcement? Excellent, bring it on! And the first thing they should do is start enforcing parking restrictions on Sundays.
scotsol, Edinburgh

This is fantastic news! We were building trams to reduce congestion in Edinburgh. However, it turns out that tram works alone reduce congestion. Let's just save a huge amount of money by keeping the tram works and not building the trams.
A Friend of Fernando Poo

Two city pharmacists are to offer advice on alcoholism and mental health issues as part of a pilot scheme.

Pharmacists are shop assistants with chemistry degrees, not doctors. I wouldn't ask a pharmacist for a mental health diagnosis any more than I'd ask a librarian.
plastikSociety

Just another example of British politicians and the NHS doing things on the cheap – typical of Britain today.
Peter - very disappointed/concerned, Edinburgh

This sounds good, if this does take pressure off the GPs maybe it will leave them to deal will more serious ailments.
alfonsa pedrosa, embra

What happens if they get it wrong, if some despairing soul ended it all because of bad advice/medication? will these pharmacists be liable for recompense through the courts by bereaved families as doctors are? Are chemists willing to accept the same terms as doctors in this regard?
soapy1

Finally, fundraising has begun for a 'giant' 2.5m statue for Craiglockhart.

Wonderful, let's hope the money is raised, this sounds a great project to look at.
alfonsa pedrosa, embra

Excellent, nothing like building a £20,000 sculpture during a recession.
Mince Pie Supper

It's not a giant at all. I know Scottish people are wee but in Holland there are toddlers bigger than that.
Rebecca of the Sea