Sir, My daughters are currently at Newport Primary School and are zoned to go to Madras College in St Andrews for their secondary education.
However, I feel strongly that I cannot send my children to a school where the fabric of the building is falling apart and where standards of teaching and learning are gradually being eroded by the depressing environment in which education is supposed to take place.
As a former teacher myself, I know the huge impact a new and technologically advanced school can have on the behaviour and enthusiasm of both the teachers and the pupils, but I am afraid that my children will never have this advantage if I do not move house or try desperately to pay for a private education.
I am not the only parent who feels this way. I am representative of many of the families in the area who feel let down by the councillors who voted to turn down the only feasible option to build a new Madras in St Andrews by 2017 the Pipeland option.
I fear that St Andrews is in danger of becoming a golfers’ retirement village where young families feel unable to put down roots because of the huge sway of the older generation and the failing infrastructure for younger generations.
Mrs Angela Rieu-Clarke. Co-chair, Newport Primary School Parent Council.
Some food for thought from Dudley
Sir, Dudley Treffry’s well written and entertaining recent Courier column (Is Perth so well endowed with listed buildings it can afford to wreck one? March 17) gives food for thought and in particular “what is the point of knocking down one listed building (the hall) in order to see another listed building (the kirk) more clearly” whilst also expressing concern about the Kirk being subsumed by a secular plaza.
Just as well he didn’t know anything about some of Perth City Centre management ideas for hosting plaza events more appropriate to the seaside.
Dudley would also be interested to know that Perth and Kinross Council in defending its wish to demolish the halls has stated on more than one occasion that if an application to build in front of the kirk was received by it today, it would certainly not grant planning permission. But the council permitted and oversaw the building of Perth Concert Hall (opened with great civic celebration in August 2005) squashed into a space bang in front of the Fair Maid’s House, the oldest secular building in Perth, completely obliterating any view of it and that of the historic premises adjoining it.
Joan McEwen. Hospital Street, Perth.
It would just be civic vandalism
Sir, Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and Perth city councillors would do well to consider this.
Whereas Councillor Peter Barrett describes a long blank grey cement wall along a riverside walk as being afflicted with graffiti, 2,500 and more people in Perth would consider demolishing Perth City Hall as civicvandalism.
Modern cities embrace colourful graffiti as creative street art which can complement modern sculpture trails and also shed light on dull, secluded urban areas.
Perhaps even street art could be encouraged to Perth’s advantage, working with the youth culture and the community.
A Train. Inchyra, Glencarse, Perth.
A dangerous and old ploy
Sir, The EU is wrong to perform its current diplomatic sabre-rattling routine.
The reality is that the interest which Russia has in Sevastopol, and hence Crimea, is vital to her; more vital to her than Portsmouth is to the UK.
The old arrangement, the one put in place by Khrushchev, gave Russia all she needed and let Ukraine have her place on the world stage. The EU disturbed that when Baroness Ashton carried out her pas de deux with Kiev.
It is the EU which has the expansionist mindset.
So why all this EUpeacocking? Is it because it takes the eye off the Eurozone crisis? I think so.
It is an old ploy, and a dangerous one at that.
Mike Scott-Hayward. Sawmill House, Kemback Bridge, Fife.
Flags money well spent . . .
Sir, I hope that after September local politicians will remember the best interests of their local constituencies and leave grand politics to Holyrood, or wherever.
The money spent on Angus flags in 2007 was particularly expensive because additional poles were built to fly the Saltire as well, to my mind a reasonable political compromise. The poles are in place and spending £4500 after six years on replacing worn flags seems good value for money.
I welcome the colour and tourist guests say they add a welcome continental atmosphere making Angus distinct and giving it a competitive advantage. I hate the petty monolithic politics that would remove this colour.
Hector Maclean. Balnaboth, Kirriemuir.
Largest welfare state
Sir, I have always considered Scots to be hard working, conscientious and potential entrepreneurs, but I am shocked by the fact that such a large proportion of the population rely on the state for an income, either wages or welfare.
So much so that Scotland has become the largest welfare state within Europe.
The saddest thought is that the future holds no hope for change. The SNP are committed to maintaining levels in the civil service and providing more for welfare payments, and the new Labour policy, if elected in Scotland, is also to increase welfare payments, even for those not currently allowed.
Anyone of a similar opinion as myself, who might not agree with a growing welfare socialist country, has nowhere to go, and their vote becomes an irrelevance.
Whether it be “yes” or “no” in September there will be a greater reliance on the state for income, which will undoubtedly result in an increase in taxation levels to keep pace with demand.
It may be a truism that we get the government we deserve, but it is worth noting from history that it was the Scottish Nationalist vote that put the late Lady Thatcher into power, and it was Scottish MPs who forced the so-called poll tax on the country, not the aforesaid Lady.
Alan Bell. Roods, Kirriemuir.
Labour stuck in comfort zone?
Sir, The speech by Johann Lamont at the Scottish Labour Party Conference and, indeed, endorsed by the entire party: “We are the party for social justice and so vote ‘No’ in the referendum”, must be the most ridiculous proposal ever made in politics.
In an independent Scotland, the Scottish Labour Party would always have a significant influence (providing it brought forward sensible policies), and at times, they would probably be the majority party and would actually be able to implement some policies.
This possibility must be too awful to contemplate, the lapdog role being so comfortable.
WJ Harris. 18 Queen Street, Carnoustie.
The hypocrisy of the SNP
Sir, The hypocrisy of the SNP is so blatant it should change its initials to SNHP. It continually attacks Labour policies, hoping the electorate will forget how the SNP decimated services to the elderly when in charge. Of course, it was helped by the LibDems, a party wholly lacking in principles.
I was proud that Labour dropped the high charges imposed by the SNP on disabled elderly (charges that went from £4 a week to £11 an hour).
More hypocrisy came from an SNP councillor who was shouting about the £25 charge for bulk uplifts even although it was also imposed by them. Another two SNP councillors made disgusting verbal attacks on Lindsay Roy MP, the best MP to ever represent the constituency.
The nastiness and hypocrisy is not just displayed by the SNP in Fife. In the Scottish Parliament it is destroying utilities and other essential services by removing them from local control.
Elmwood College, renowned world-wide, has now been submerged in a college group. The excellent ambulance service we had in Fife is being undermined by having its administration in Edinburgh. Now, patients’ appointments are cancelled because no ambulance crew is available.
A recent photograph of councillors supporting action against domestic violence included one questionable face. Former SNP MSP Bill Walker was imprisoned for committing extreme domestic violence.
It should be remembered that the hypocrisy from the SNP goes way back. The SNP support to the Tories imposed the wrath of Mrs Thatcher on the Scots. What a present from “Scotland’s party” for “Scotland’s people”.
There are many more examples but voters should not forget the shortcomings of the SNP when it asks for support. You need a long spoon to sup with such people. Sensible Scots voting an emphatic “no” in the referendum will reflect that.
Joyce Smith. 4 Lime Grove, Methil, Leven.
Possibly not the first . . .
Sir, There has been a great deal of acrimony developing in the independence debate and not much humour (though I accept this is a serious issue we are dealing with).
However, I was greatly amused today (March 25) not by the input by Kermit the Frog himself, but by your page one comment that: “He is the first Muppet to speak out on the referendum, though some might disagree.” A rare chuckle, at a time when all the news has been a bit depressing.
Dr Charles Allison. Summerbank House, Brechin.