Sir, Regarding the article about the increased lottery fees in The Courier (January 18).
How can Camelot make the statement: “more winners will share in the prize pot” when the numbers drawn will be in the same format and doubling the ticket cost will probably reduce the number of entries?
The whole Camelot lottery business seems to be a con.
Why do they have to have two stooges pressing buttons and writing down numbers, when everything is recorded on camera. This in itself leads to a feeling of mistrust.
It is obvious in this digital age nothing is real, especially when vast sums of money are involved.
Is anyone examining the integrity of the number selection process?
The doubling of the fees will put more money in the bank for Camelot, especially from the people who are locked in to choosing the same numbers every time.
They win nothing but are too scared to miss a week just in case the miracle might happen.
We all know the uncontrolled greed of companies that rake in millions of pounds from the innocent public, at the same time as trying to make themselves look good by donating money to good causes.
It’s about time Camelot were made to prove they are running this business properly and efficiently.
Roy Bayne. 2 Isla Grove, Alyth.
Another display of how London regards us
Sir, Scottish taxpayers must be wondering why they are paying the equivalent of £2000 per head for a high-speed rail track that goes as far north as Leeds.
The London government has pinned its hopes on HS2 which it believes can help grow the economy and bring wealth to other areas outwith the South East of England.
Disappointingly, their plans do not include Scotland. For those who think we are better off remaining part of the UK, this is a great example of the way the London-centric UK thinks about the rest of us.
As far as they are concerned, we can wait longer than any other part of the UK and by their own reasoning, our economic development can be put on hold. In the meantime, we will be paying up front.
To date the UK has no HS2 plan or guarantees for Scotland. No wonder the Scottish Government, local councils and the business community are demanding that HS2 is delivered in Scotland “sooner rather than later”.
Douglas Chapman. 38 Pitbauchlie Bank, Dunfermline.
Faster trains are not the answer
Sir, It was chilling indeed to read that a current Chancellor of the Exchequer would compare the building of a high-speed train network, to cut one or two hours from a journey, to the investment in railways by the Victorians.
Does he not realise the Victorian alternative to rail was horse and cart or canal barge and that rail would cut days, not hours, from most journeys?
Victorian railways revolutionised Britain, whereas cutting an hour from London to Leeds will not. However, investing billions in fibre optic broadband and 4G coverage most certainly will.
Such an enhancement of business communication would transform British competitiveness out of all recognition and relax the grip that London has on the rest of the country, when it comes to business opportunity.
A successful future is not in shaving an hour from a journey, but in shaving thousands of hours from the transfer of billions of streams of data.
Poland has comprehensive fibre optic broadband coverage. Surely Britain should, and more!
Leslie Milligan. 18b Myrtlehall Gardens, Dundee.
How to remedy litter situation
Sir, Our countryside may be awash with litter but the people who hate it can change it.
Picking up the occasional glass bottle can remove a potential danger to people, dogs and wildlife.
Picking up a carrier bag of litter on a walk leaves it nicer for the next time and one person armed with a litter-picker and a few hours to spare can transform a spoilt beauty spot.
Some people already make a difference just think what many people could do. It is not easy to educate the ignorant and dirty, but that is no reason to give in and accept the mess they leave behind.
John M Richmond. 12 Shamrock Street, Dundee.
Original plan was better
Sir, I must ask why Scottish Water is planning to put wind turbines on MacRitch Hill.
When the Backwater Dam was built there was a plan to put turbines in the pipe on the way to Lintrathen filter station.
There is 300 feet difference in height and there is a break pressure tank at the end of the pipe.
Only the price of electricity stopped the plan at that time.
W A Beattie. Flat 4, Strathmore Court, Kirkton Place, Forfar.