Sir, Your article on progress towards reinstating the Leven rail link (Monday’s paper) repeats the common misconception that the closure of services on this line was due to Beeching’s cuts. This is not correct.
Beeching did not propose Leven for closure, only the Leven to St Andrews coastal stretch. In fact, the Thornton to Leven line succumbed in a strangely concentrated swathe of “post Beeching” cuts in Fife and along the Forth Estuary, which saw the loss of train services to Alloa, Grangemouth, Leven, St Andrews and other significant towns, plus the drastic closure of the direct Edinburgh-Perth route through Kinross.
If the Beeching Report had been followed to the letter, then all of these would still have been open.
For anyone living in an area west of Haymarket station and bounded elsewhere by Falkirk, Stirling, Perth and Dundee, the outcome of Beeching’s vision would have been considerably better than what actually happened!
Of course, the blinkered mood in the 1960s was that the car was in the ascendancy, hence the abject capitulation
Now that the age of the car is stagnating and probably in long-term decline, let us learn the lessons of post-Beeching apathy and resignation.
We need to be active to rectify this historic mistake and get trains running once again on a stretch of line which even the much-maligned Dr Beeching indicated should continue.
Ken Maclagan. 2 Union Place, Leven.
Relieved at inquiry result
Sir, I am so relieved that the allegations of abuse murder and torture in Iraq of detainees in 2004 have been revealed for what they are baseless ugly lies determined to undermine the reputation of courageous British soldiers who deserve our utmost respect for the harrowing job they do.
Well done to the Al-Sweady inquiry for finally exposing the truth. But the question I am asking, like many others will be, is why did this inquiry take more than five years to complete and cost £31m of taxpayers’ money?
How many armed personnel would this have paid for with the military being forced to cut posts in a time of austerity? This hardly seems justice?
It would seem that over-zealous lawyers acting for Iraqi detainees are partly responsible. I hope the brave soldiers who have had those lies hanging over them for 10 years will find peace and freedom this Christmas.
Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth.
Priorities are all wrong
Sir, Further to your front page article regarding street lighting (December 17), I was surprised to drive down Viewlands Road, Perth, at 8.30 on Tuesday night to see Perth Academy playing fields lit up by exceedingly bright floodlights to allow a small number of pupils to play five-a-side football.
If Perth & Kinross Council can provide floodlights for five-a-side football, surely they can provide adequate and safe street lights on the main roads of the town?
It would seem that the council has its priorities all wrong.
Rodger A Scott. 72 Feus Road, Perth.
Not about his personal belief
Sir, Re your recent report of a minister “disturbed” by the religious tone of the Scottish Secular Society founder’s criticism of Jim Murphy; yes, I “posted four different Facebook threads about Mr Murphy in the space of two days” because four different stories came in from the press in two days.
The Rev Robertson then quote-mined the sub-headers and pulled out the words he wanted to make his statement.
The Scottish Secular Society does not challenge Jim Murphy’s Catholicism; we challenge faith when it becomes installed in Government as privilege, like unelected Catholic representatives on all our education committees, segregating children on the basis of faith or forcing prayers in schools.
If the Rev Robertson truly believed my comments were sectarian he should have contacted the police, not capitalise on it with a press release.
Thanks to that I am now in receipt of tweets calling me a “virulent bigot”.
Garry Otton. Secretary, Scottish Secular Society, Broughton Street, Edinburgh.
A privilege to see concert
Sir, I have just attended the annual Christmas concert at Kingspark School. What a privilege. The hall was packed with parents, ex pupils and ex teachers and we were treated to a wonderful concert of festive music with many items from the choir and some great solos.
The pupils obviously enjoyed every minute, as did the audience. Much time and dedication by the staff had gone into this production. Well done to you all.
Christine Johnston. 8 Stanley Road, Broughty Ferry, Dundee.