These transactions will need to be monitored very closely by voters' groups throughout their progress, in order to make sure that the city does intend to develop the land – not merely buy low to sell high when the economy improves, which is what the council's financial gurus might advise.

We did not vote in councillors, or employ council officers, to become land and property speculators. We need houses for our people now, and work for our beleaguered building industry – cumulatively one of Scotland's largest employers now.

If the council is genuinely back in the market for development land it should start with the Caltongate patch in front of its offices, and build us 50 or 60 houses and flats for families paying affordable rents.

It has the opportunity here to provide a model for the rest of Scotland . . . we could yet see our council offices faced by a village of the people the council employees work for – and they would thus be reminded daily of the value we place on their services.
David Fiddimore, Nether Craigwell, Calton Road, Edinburgh