Corrections and clarifications

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WEE Al, we have all been there before ( Enjoying the back- seat banter on the 26 bus, Diary, June 23), the back-seat mob with a voice and more; who scream and squeal, curse and swear, tell the world their story, as if we care.

He was with Her, She was with Him, descriptions lucid, revolting and grim.

Cellphone alerts, like a Woodstock on wheels, that play in your head like a bucket of eels; those tales of kebabs that went down a treat, but now add some colour to an East Lothian street.

Wee Al, we’ve all heard them, that’s not in doubt, that band of crazies that bellow and shout; we just ignore it, don’t kick up a fuss, keep our eyes on The Herald and keep safe on the bus. George Robertson, Edinburgh WE at the Sunday Herald are proud of our journalism, and strive to provide readers with news, features and comment that meet the highest standards in terms of quality, accuracy and fairness. Any errors will be corrected as soon as possible and clarifications printed where appropriate, so if you think either is needed, please email letters@ sundayherald.com, telephone 0141 302 7860 or write to the Editor at the address on this page. You can also approach the Press Complaints Commission, the independent body which governs the newspaper industry. It will deal with your concerns at no cost. Call it on 0845 600 2757 or visit I WRITE to clarify the position of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority (National park boss: ‘It should be privatised within 10 years’, News, June 23). In particular, I strongly object to your use of the word “privatised”, which forms no part of our future plans.

The National Park Authority’s ( NPA) role is to protect and care for our national park because of its outstanding natural beauty and diverse natural and cultural heritage. Central to this is working closely with partners in the public, private and third sectors to secure resources and investment for the area.

The current economic climate is challenging and the reality is that public funding alone is very unlikely to keep pace with the increasing costs of delivering services and facilities to the high standard our visitors and residents expect in an internationally renowned National Park.

The NPA must rise to this challenge and be open to appropriate commercial initiatives that reduce running costs and increase income streams to both safeguard the park’s future and create an excellent visitor experience.

We have invested in the visitor infrastructure over the last few years, in line with our National Park Partnership Plan, formally approved by Scottish ministers. This has generated confidence from the private sector, which is responding by offering a wider range of services to our four million annual visitors. As a result, we are seeing tangible benefits for our communities and visitor economy.

Recent examples have been our scheduled waterbus initiative on Loch Lomond, where we invested in the pier infrastructure and the private sector runs all boat operations. We are currently improving degraded lochside sites in the Trossachs, where private operators will help to run visitor services such as camping, motorhome service points and toilets.

I want to stress that “privatisation” is not a goal or word I would ever use in relation to the national park. We are not wholesale selling off public assets and there will always be services and facilities that will be delivered through public funding.

This debate is about finding additional opportunities to supplement our income through different funding streams to ensure we have the resources to manage and protect a very special place for future generations. Fiona Logan Chief Executive, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park “George Osborne was ridiculed last night for trying to appear a man of the people. The Chancellor tweeted a snap of himself “finalising” work on his spending cuts over a burger and chips. But it was a gourmet meal from a trendy diner … new chain Byron.” The Sun “There I am working late on my speech, and I’ve got a takeaway hamburger, but it puts you on the front page of The Sun. It’s an occupational hazard.” George Osborne “Some leading politicians are struggling with the concept of how to communicate the idea that they are normal.” Iain Martin, The Telegraph “Can I strongly recommend the Oreo milkshakes at Byron’s. They are something else.” Nick Clegg The portly Mr Pickles, who was on the receiving end of an Osborne jibe, exacted public revenge with a Twitter picture. In [it] he is pictured with a bowl of salad and a packet of carrots, “putting finishing touches” to a big speech. Rob Williams, The Independent