Sir, – In the last nine years we have seen absolutely no progress from the SNP Government on building a flyover where the A937 meets the A90 at Laurencekirk.
The campaign, led by Jill Fotheringham, has clearly presented the safety case, backed by thousands of people who have signed petitions calling for action.
The Scottish Government has admitted to a huge underspend in the budget.
On this occasion, they cannot blame Westminster for the lack of action.
At a hustings meeting in Montrose during the last Scottish Parliament election campaign, Nigel Don MSP said the way the government spends its money is a matter of priorities.
A safe crossing of the A90 at Laurencekirk is evidently not even a low priority for the Scottish Government.
It simply does notregister on their scale of awareness.
The chief executive of Angus Council admitted at a recent committee meeting that planning permission for a business park in Montrose is at risk unless a flyover is built.
It seems that further house building inLaurencekirk is also under threat for the same reason.
This shows thatour local economy and jobs in both Montrose and Laurencekirk are under threat if theScottish Government fails to build the flyover.
Over the last seven years I have offered to meet whoever thetransport minister has been, at 7am anyworking day, so that he or she can see theproblem on that road in real life.
This offer has never been taken up.
A safe crossing for Montrose andLaurencekirk traffic should be the transport minister’s top priority.
Once more, I call on the Scottish Government not just to talk but to act.
Councillor David May. Evanston, Hillside.
Evil’s roots arein hearts of man
Sir, – Mr Evans (May 1) wants us to believe that faith in God is responsible for the wars that have scarred the face ofhistory and killedmillions of people.
He suggests that if God existed: “we would not have any wars at all, ever”, overlooking the obvious truth that it is human beings who have persistently used their free will to cause pain and strife.
It was not God who invented bayonets, whips, bombs, machine guns, gas chambers and so on.
It is (Jesus said) from within the human heart that evil proceeds.
A. N. Wilson once referred to the optimistic view of CharlesSwinburne, expressed in his hymn, “Glory to Man in the highest. For man is the master of things”.
He commented that this was an unlikely song to sing after the century of Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, Mao andothers who had caused such suffering andmisery in the world.
Sadly, his statement needs constant updating in this allegedly enlightened 21st century.
As for a link between the “declining numbers of church congregations” and their “refusal to accept gay ministers”, what evidence has Mr Evans to support such a link?
It is the notion that we know better than the God who inspired the scriptures that leads to unbelief and/or indifference.
The congregations that are growing are mostly ones that take seriously the revelation our maker has given.
Rev David J Randall. Applehill Gardens, Wellbank.
Creation marred by lawlessness
Sir, – Mr Evans (May 1)says that God only exists in the minds of hisbelievers. I contend that God dwells in the hearts of believers.
This is what motivates Christians to serve and bless their fellow man. Look at Mary Slessor of Dundee, for example, who devoted her life to mission in Nigeria.
He asks why we had two world wars and argues that had an all-powerful God really existed, we would not have had any wars at all, ever.
Mr Evans seems to think that God should prevent people fighting each other. From the beginning of creation God gave man a free choice. It appears that his desire is that we would worship him from our hearts not as robots.
Man was made in the image of God and, when creation was complete, God declared it very good. However, as pointed out by MrMorrison (April 29), sin has spoiled creation.
Paul Read. Clevitch, Wester Lumbennie, Newburgh.
Long-distance nuisance calls
Sir, – Malcolm Parkin (April 30) is annoyed by nuisance calls and asks why BT cannot act.
Fed up with these unsolicited telephone calls, I immediately put down the phone when I hear a foreign voice.
In this politicallycorrect age, could this be construed as racist?
Clark Cross. 138 Springfield Road, Linlithgow.
Will we benefit from bridge?
Sir, – With the new Forth crossing well in progress, is there any department looking at how many members of the workforce have been recruited from theindigenous population of Scotland, and more so, from Fife and West Lothian?
These are two areas that should be seeing massive local economic benefits from such a huge infrastructureproject on theirdoorsteps.
Can we expectstatistics on the actual number of local people employed on theQueensferry Crossing to be kept hidden under some 30-year public records rule?
Are we to see asituation where much of the pay-packet moneyfor the building of this structure itself vanishes from the local economy, like the hundreds ofmillions of pounds that went to China to supply and fabricate steel that could have been done in this country?
Is there any one in Holyrood or in our local authorities monitoring this situation?
Colin Cookson. Stenton, Glenrothes.
Break silence on Ninewells strike
Sir, – Now that polls have closed in thegeneral election, can we expect some publicstatement from Scottish Health Minister Shona Robison?
She has said little or nothing of substance about the dispute taking place at NinewellsHospital.
This is one ofScotland’s biggest hospitals and you would have thought that Ms Robison, the person in charge of the NHS in Scotland, would have at least offered to help break the deadlock betweenstriking porters and management.
However, the public will see through a belated intervention.
Robert Anderson. Kirkton, Arbroath.
Nordic modelfor Scotland
Sir, – Andrew Dundas (May 1) in his reply toletters regarding Norway’s healthy economy, cherry picks high taxation in an attempt to deflect from the reality that Norwegians enjoy a far higher standard ofliving than Scots.
One such factor is thatthe disposable income Norwegians pocket after taxation far outweighs the average Scottish worker’s pay.
The criteria unionist parties use in assessing Scotland as “too wee” and “too poor” should, if accurate, apply equally to our Nordic neighbour. Yet they are judged to be residents of the number one country in the world to live.
Does Mr Dundasseriously believe they would have attainedsuch heights if theNorwegians had entrusted Westminster to run their economy?
Here is the real difference between Scotland and Norway.
In one country, its assets are prudently maximised for the long-term benefit of all, with a government reflecting their aspirations. The other is a victim ofshort-termism and neglect, governed by a reactionary, unrepresentative, self-serving elite.
The disparity in our respective fortunes is a glaring riposte toWestminster’s mantra.
Full fiscal autonomy? Yes please. The sooner the better.
We have suffered the alternative far too long.
Ken Clark. 335 King Street, Broughty Ferry.
Building firms need assistance
Sir, – It is welcome news that the number of Scottish buildingcompanies going out of business fell by 20% in 2014, as shown by thelatest figures from the UK Insolvency Service.
This trend is further evidence of the tentative recovery beingexperienced in theindustry at this time.
But there are also growing signs offragmentation withinthe industry.
There are still significantly fewer medium-sized and large companies operating within the sector than prior to the recession. Conversely, we’re seeing a steady increase in the number of small construction businesses in Scotland.
Rebuilding the industry’s skills base remains a critical priority.
These trends suggest we need to continue to support the smaller firms with the necessary investment to encourage the recruitment and training of apprentices. That way we can keep the industry’s recovery on a stable long-term path.
Vaughan Hart. Managing director, Scottish BuildingFederation, 4 Crichton’s Close, Edinburgh.
Beavers areout of control
Sir, – I note that Alastair MacGuganof Scottish NaturalHeritage (May 5) speaks of “concerns that people might be releasing wild boar into the wild. This isillegal.”
If only SNH had adopted such a robust approach to the illegal release of beavers into the wild, the situation with these destructive animals may not have got out of hand, as it now clearly is.
Gerard Watts. Persie House, Bridge of Cally.
Slow downon school run
Sir, – Recent correspondents, including Robert Anderson and Tom Black (May 6) have highlighted bad driving practices including using a mobile, smoking, speeding and a general lack of courtesy.
Speeding seems to be most common among mothers on the school run.
The school-run rush lasts only 10 minutes and sees frantic women in small people carriers descend on the areas around school gates.
They sweep in at great speed and brake hard.
They appear unaware of other motorists or pedestrians.
I know it can be hard juggling a young family and other commitments but if they left their homes 10 minutes earlier they would not need to drive so fast.
Bob Ferguson. North Muirton, Perth.