Sir, On visiting the Fair City recently I was appalled to see big “shanty town” type huts in front of many business premises businesses that are paying high rates for the privilege of trading in Perth’s main street.
There was a small space between the huts to allow customers to get to any of these shops.
Who came up with this crazy idea?
Surely along the Inch would have been more appropriate, and allow local businesses to benefit from passing trade?
A large delivery van was having great difficulty driving up the street as many huts were displaying goods on the ground in front of their stalls.
I will wait until these huts are removed before I venture back into Perth.
Will the existing shops be allowed a reduction on their rates?
Dorothy Kennedy. Wormit.
No effect from oil until 2016
Sir, Derek Farmer (letters, December 3) makes some basic errors in his usual weekly diatribe against the case for Scottish independence and all things SNP.
The first suggests that the Scottish economy is dependent on oil and gas revenues it’s not. Independence means that we would get to choose how taxation gained from that huge resource is spent.
Whether the tax gained is based on $100 a barrel or $50, the tax on this resource is still a bonus.
Given some of the reaction to the UK Government’s autumn statement, even Mr Farmer must agree that we would be better off being independent and having control of all our resources rather than facing years of cuts and increasing, uncontrolled debt in the UK.
Secondly, had we voted “yes” we would not yet be independent and the current oil price would not have a direct effect on the spending of the government of an independent Scotland until April 2016.
What is concerning is the paltry tax benefit given to the oil and gas industry by George Osborne which may well trigger a lack of investment in new fields and a resultant reduction in jobs and tax take from the North Sea.
In other words, remaining in the UK equals the worst of both worlds.
Douglas Chapman. 38 Pitbauchlie Bank, Dunfermline.
What will his legacy be?
Sir, So, Gordon Brown has decided to call it a day. How convenient with his beloved Labour Party in total disarray in Scotland and the general election drawing ever nearer.
Also, there’s the Smith Commission’s recommendations being put to Westminster, which will be well watered down long before they come back over the border.
What will Gordon Brown’s legacy be, if any? The mighty politician from the backwoods of Scotland who became Prime Minister or the financial con man who brought the country to its knees and spawned the unbelievable economic system that, incredibly, still exists today.
Or maybe he will be remembered as the saviour of the union amongst the Better Together campaigners, but there again, maybe jumping into bed with the Tories might just tarnish his moderate contribution to the political spectre in the last 20 years.
All said, I wish him and his family well for the future.
Thomas Bryce. 126 Kirke Park, Methilhill, Leven.
Biggest bed-blocker of all?
Sir, Your reports make clear that both NHS Fife and Fife Council blame each other for the bed-blocking problems (December 4) and it is easy for Cllr Tim Brett, former CEO of Ninewells Hospital and now keen to push his MP candidacy, to join in while ignoring his administration’s responsibility until 2012.
Neither body, nor Cllr Brett, has justified supporting a new Madras College at Pipeland in relation to its permanent prevention of any expansion of St. Andrews Community Hospital and Hospice at the same time as the council plans 2,000 new houses within its catchment area!
Community and home care are important but will the NHS/council’s myopic policy prove the biggest bed-blocker of all?
John Birkett. 12 Horseleys Park, St Andrews.
Resurfacing is badly needed
Sir, I am a regular commuter between Perth and Edinburgh and, along with many other motorists, would like to know when Bear Scotland intend to resurface the seven and a half mile stretch of carriageway of the M90 northbound between just south of Junction 5 to north of Junction 8.
This carriageway has been patched since “birth” and is now worse than passing over the expansion sections on the Forth Road Bridge.
They pampered all the roads around Gleneagles for the Ryder Cup, which is long gone, so will they now give consideration to the above section of motorway which appears to have disappeared off the map?
H F Watt. Coupar Angus.