We’ve had a ‘tech city’ before – it was called Silicon Glen and look how that ended

In your article entitled “Ambitious plans unveiled for ‘tech city’ at Edinburgh Airport” (Scotsman, 12 March) we read about the proposed plans to convert the disused ‘crosswind’ runway into a digital hub.

They say what goes around comes around and the article reminded me of the last great vision that went by the name Silicon Glen – another brainwave that never came to anything apart from the Scottish Government handing over millions of pounds to foreign companies who were laughing all the way to the bank on being paid to build their own work space.

Now, years later pay a visit to the Brucefield industrial estate see first-hand the endgame of what happened to this hard-earned taxpayer’s money, with more than 50 per cent of offices sporting a big yellow To Let sign outside. And what about the old NEC building out at Bathgate, now used as a distribution warehouse for a major supermarket chain. And how about the Motorola building that once employed more than 3,000 workers and now reduced to the Pyramids Business Park, which currently has lots of space to let and currently being pitched as: “providing first class working conditions with on site facilities including its own gym, restaurant and dedicated car parking . . . Occupying a strategic location in Central Scotland, The Pyramids Business Park offers high quality, open plan office accommodation and unrivalled accessibility.” Words that sound all too familiar.

And back to the latest “tech city” – don’t make me laugh! Can I suggest to those enthusiastic but short-sighted developers behind this latest folly that they first ensure that the Brucefield and Pyramids sites are full to capacity before venturing out on yet another “tech city”.

DR GRAHAM SEED Clova Drive, Murieston, Livingston

The proposal for a technical/ commercial development at Edinburgh Airport is entirely reasonable. To include housing and related facilities is the exact opposite. This land adjacent to the communication potential of an airport, a major motorway junction and a main line station (if someone gets round to building it) is far too valuable to be lost to housing.

Planning’s obsession – mixing commercial use with housing, and all that goes with it – defies understanding. The modelisdemonstrablyflawed. It drives up commuting times, creates pollution and makes it impossible to frame an effective public transport system.

One could cry for the lost opportunities.