Bad night’s sleep

Spiky railings are to be installed to deter the homeless from sleeping rough at a building of “national importance”. Edinburgh Council has granted permission to the National Records of Scotland to fit railings at its A-listed West Register House in Charlotte Square.

The chance to get shelter – a place to stay dry at night – will be making this building popular for rough sleepers so the solution may be to put shelters up around Edinburgh for homeless people. I think we should respect the fact that some homeless people don’t want houses and a place to live like most of us but they would like a dry shelter and a toilet to use. So instead of putting fences and railings up could we not care for them more and be kind?

Caroline Macdonald Says it all when winter is fast approaching and money is wasted on this nonsense when it could used to actually help the homeless.

Sheila Wilson

It’s pretty disgusting when buildings are valued more highly than human lives.

Jenny Tucker Casson

I remember when the art galleries on Princes Street put up rails to stop people using them as a public toilet as the local police couldn't be bothered doing anything. More likely that's the same here.

Paul Kierley The council provides emergency accommodation and there are plenty of charities out there. People need to take responsibility for their own lives.

Ian Strang Here we are in 2021 with so much attention being drawn to hate speech and protected characteristics. We’re asked to be mindful of others and the language you use in order to avoid causing offence.

Yet it's OK for the council to outright dehumanise a whole group of people without actually doing anything positive to help them. That must only be acceptable because it benefits a more fortunate section of society as they won't have to see other people's unfortunate reality.

Ross A Brown I was all set to be irate about this but you read the whole story and people have been defecating in the alcoves and homeless people have had sleeping bags set on fire. The latter presents a real risk to an important building containing important records and I can totally