Sir, I was very disappointed to read in The Courier (December 12) that people attending the community council meeting in Dundee’s West End the previous evening voted unanimously against Dundee Council’s plans for residential parking in our area.
We have been trying to get residential parking in Dundee West End for many years, as it is well-nigh impossible to get parked between 9am and 5pm anywhere near your house or even in one of the local car parks.
It is also a problem for anyone working on a house in this locality.
I think that it is the charging that people are objecting to £80 per year as opposed to the £5 a year charged in Menzieshill.
I also think that the people who went to the meeting were there because they opposed the proposals.
Thirty people don’t represent the whole of the West End.
I wanted to attend this meeting myself, but I didn’t know when it was to be held.
I don’t think that we should pre-empt the consultation process. That will give a better idea of what all residents in the West End think.
Obviously no-one wants to pay to park their car and that is the reason why people who attend the university or work in town park outside our houses and in our local car parks.
That’s why we cannot get parked near our homes.
Katharine A Smith. 29 Westfield Place, Dundee.
Did not “run” Dundee club
Sir, We are writing with reference to your article in The Courier on Saturday November 17 which refers to Andrea Law, who was sentenced recently for embezzlement, as the person “who runs disability sport group Dundee Boccia Club”. This is in fact incorrect.
Dundee Boccia Club was established 10 years ago and is a fully constituted club which is affiliated to Dundee City Disability Sport and holds Development Level of Leisure and Culture Dundee’s Club Accreditation programme.
The club was set up by parents of children and young people who want to participate in the sport of Boccia which is a Paralympic sport. Dundee Boccia Club holds an AGM each year where members elect the committee and office bearers to assist with the running of the club.
We have held the positions of chairperson and secretary for nine years and oversee the day-to-day business of the club with the assistance of the committee.
Although Andrea Law has been part of the committee and did hold the post of treasurer, this was quickly changed as soon as her case was highlighted. We feel although she was involved in the club she did not, as your article states, run Dundee Boccia Club.
Mari Macmaster. Chairperson. Craig Macmaster. Secretary. Dundee Boccia Club.
A rather ironic state of affairs
Sir, So Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing compared the UK Government to an “absentee landlord” trying to keep a grip on Scotland’s energy resources (Davey warning on Scottish energy bills, December 12).
How then would he describe his own proposals, which would result in subsistence communities in other countries being cleared off their land to make way for plantations of trees, which can be cut down to burn in Scottish power stations such as the one proposed at Dundee?
If Mr Ewing’s proposals on renewable energy subsidies for biomass are approved by the Scottish Parliament, that’s likely to be the outcome.
Rather ironic that Scotland will be inflicting clearances on other countries.
Andrew Llanwarne. Co-ordinator, Friends of the Earth Tayside, 8 Glasclune Way, Broughty Ferry, Dundee.
Denied vote in referendum
Sir, Like George McMillan (December 11) I too am a Scot, but British first. Unlike Mr McMillan my job forced me to emigrate south of the border in 1990 and I now find myself in the unhappy position of being denied a vote on the future of the land of my birth when the time comes, whilst English folks resident in Scotland can do so. As the potential break-up of the UK would dramatically affect all its citizens, there is a case for letting them all have a say.
It also leaves me wondering where I would stand in the event of Scotland seceding? Will I be a foreign national in England and need a new (Scottish) passport?
Dr Stephen Moreton. 33 Marina Avenue, Great Sankey, Warrington, Cheshire.
Not such a good idea?
Sir, After reading in Saturday’s Courier about the massive substation plan for Tayside, I wondered if the parties involved had checked the Scottish Environment Protection Agency flood map for the area (an indicative representation, so it could be worse than illustrated) which shows the area Haughend Farm is on is part of a flood plain? Surely not a great area for an important substation.
R McVicar. 1 Belmont Place, Meigle.
We should support TS1
Sir, I read with interest the report on Taxpayer Scotland’s stance that the provision of a car and driver for Dundee’s Lord Provost was “total hypocrisy”.
Our present Lord Provost, Bob Duncan, is a committed advocate of our city, as was his predecessor, John Letford. He has been elected to represent us locally, nationally and internationally.
He fulfils this role fully, working days and hours that many of us would find unsocial and excessive, to the best of his ability.
Symbolically, his role merits appropriate support. This includes the provision of transport befitting the office.
Most Dundonians, myself included, are proud to see the Lord Provost’s car around town, with its weel-kent TS1 plate, as he attends important functions. It is a symbol of Dundee’s aspirations. It represents the strength of our voice in the world and the voice we know we can have in the future.
Practically, the Lord Provost’s role demands timely and engaged attendance at many events and functions. The bus, or taxis, just wouldn’t hack it. Additionally, the Lord Provost’s driver has many duties beyond the chauffeur role. He adds value for the city, as does the Lord Provost himself.
We should support and feel proud of TS1 and of the office of Lord Provost. It is one of the many elements that will maintain and grow Dundee’s thriving reputation. This, in turn will generate economic and social returns to benefit all of its citizens.
Andy Lothian. Chief Executive, Insights, Dundee.
Churches are so out of touch
Sir, Whether the topic is assisted death or sexual orientation, the established churches north and south of the border have never looked so out of touch with the rest of the nation.
In a shameful moment on Tuesday, the only organisation that has a duty to marry English citizens was legally allowed to discriminate once more against gay men and women.
I have a terrible feeling Alex Salmond will also betray his undertaking to offer equal treatment to all couples wishing to marry by allowing the Kirk a similar cop-out.
There is a belief that all clergy oppose gay marriage but though conservatives and the hierarchies are against it, a growing number of parish clergy have a more nuanced view.
This makes the clause legally barring ministers marrying same-sex couples unless their hierarchy ‘opts-in’ doubly unfortunate and a manifest breach of religious freedom.
Rev Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
Mall and hall will help each other
Sir, It is very disturbing that Councillor Alan Grant, Depute Leader of Perth & Kinross Council (Letters, December 10), rushes to condemn Perth City Market Trust’s proposals for development of the City Hall prior to any consideration by the responsible committee and apparently without having seen the plans for himself.
It is even more disturbing that he does not know the difference between a shopping mall and a market hall which are in fact complementary and mutually beneficial.
What we propose is not only Perth’s but Scotland’s first fresh food market, whereas there is not one fresh food shop in the St John Centre in fact, there are very few anywhere in the city centre.
Fully integrated with St John’s Place on both sides as well as with Kirkside and King Edward Street, the building will become “a market hall in a market square”.
If Councillor Grant imagines that retailers in the vicinity of City Hall would prefer to see their businesses ruined by the whole area becoming a building site for two years, as the hall is demolished to create a useless backyard, rather than have thousands of new customers flocking into Perth to enjoy the buzz and variety of this whole new scene, then he is completely out of touch.
It would be a pleasure to show him our plans and discuss them fully if he would care to get in touch.
Vivian Linacre. (Perth City Market Trust), 21 Marshall Place, Perth.
Name to reflect bridge users?
Sir, Regarding the naming of the new Forth crossing.
As the existing (perfectly adequate) bridge is to be used solely for buses when the new one comes on stream why not call the new bridge the Forth Road Bridge, then the old bridge could be renamed the Stagecoach Bridge?
Tom Minogue. 94 Victoria Terrace, Dunfermline.