Sir, A feasibility study into the viability of Leuchars being turned into a commercial airport is being requested by a Fife MSP (The Courier, August 1).
Surely this would be a complete waste of taxpayers’ money as Leuchars would not be a viable proposition based on the experience of Prestwick and Dundee airports.
Both receive huge subsidies yet continue to have diminishing appeal both to airlines and the public (at Prestwick, Ryanair is cutting back service and Dundee has a service that only a handful of passengers use).
Leuchars would require massive public subsidy to create a commercial airport infrastructure plus upgraded road access, based on the remote possibility that Ryanair may be interested!
What we don’t need is another money drain for taxpayers to support, especially when we currently have one of the most successful and best airports in the UK on our doorstep, Edinburgh, flying to all parts of the UK and the world.
What we do need is good local transport links to Edinburgh airport. What is required, for example, is a frequent bus link service direct into Edinburgh airport from Dundee city centre, similar to that available in many cities around the world, running at a minimum hourly service or better.
Such a service in luxury coaches, wifi enabled, where travellers can relax or do work in comfort, without the hassle and expense of parking, would require far less of a subsidy and would benefit a far larger proportion of the local population than the limited expensive options proposed or available at Leuchars and Dundee.
Maybe politicians should work towards providing their constituents with better and more frequent transport links to the airport that already has the services and routes available globally (ie Edinburgh) and that the majority can make use off, instead of wasting taxpayers money on schemes that can only provide a very limited service to a very few.
John Martin. Dawson Road, Dundee.
Not acceptable in this country
Sir, I refer to Kieran Andrews’ excellent article on the new style of policing in Scotland, in Saturday’s Courier, along with the accompanying photograph. On Friday night I had the privilege to be at Hampden Park to watch the athletics along with thousands of people of all ages and many nationalities.
As this happy crowd of people left the ground, high-fiving all and sundry, imagine my surprise to be confronted by two of Police Scotland officers toting machine guns. What’s that all about? Why were these officers not in reserve, out of sight, in the nearby police station? Were these officers ever likely to use machine guns with thousands milling about?
This is not policing by consent, it is policing by intimidation and is completely unacceptable in our country.
W A Cant. 4 Kirk Road, Fowlis, Dundee.
Didn’t vote? Don’t moan!
Sir, A Bruce (letters August 1) considers my opinions concerning the upcoming referendum as “rubbish”. My letter, responding to a previous correspondent’s complaint that Alex Salmond was causing a “breakdown of social cohesion”, simply pointed out that September 18 is the culmination of a democratic process rarely, if ever, seen in Scotland.
A Bruce contends the SNP only received their mandate because he/she, including “most of us”, whoever they may be, didn’t vote. Their first choice, Labour, were dismissed because of poor government. Not the most positive argument for continuing unionist rule.
I say to A Bruce that this is democracy in action. If you choose not to vote, then you forfeit your right to complain about the result. To have faith that the unionists constructed a system at Holyrood which would forever hold the SNP and Scottish aspirations in check is absolutely no excuse.
A Bruce also, uniquely amongst democracies, wants more than half of all Scots to vote for independence in order to be satisfied. Perhaps we should apply that principle retrospectively to the original union agreement?
Ken Clark. 335 King Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee.
The Deep Sea end of an era
Sir, On behalf of the Sterpaio family, we would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to:D C Thomson (in particular, The Courier), STV, Radio Tay, Radio Wave 102 and Facebook, for the coverage of the last day of The Deep Sea Restaurant. We also thank all well-wishers who showered us with cards and flowers and “best wishes” for retirement.
A great big thank you to all the people from around the world that we have been privileged to know, but most of all to the special people of Dundee, who have helped to make The Deep Sea what it was an institution.
Raymond and Lawrence Sterpaio and families. The Deep Sea Restaurant, 81 Nethergate, Dundee.
Will it happen all over again?
Sir, In the Seventies and Eighties when oil was flowing into Westminster coffers, Margaret Thatcher stated that without North Sea oil the UK was facing bankruptcy. Now that massive reserves of oil and gas even bigger than the North Sea’s have been found off the west coast of Scotland will it happen all over again?
Yes voters in the referendum can rest assured in the knowledge that Scotland will probably get independence but not until our natural resources run out.
James Last. 27 Stronsay Court, Perth.