Sir, It grieves me to see problems with the Children’s Panel system highlighted in newspaper reports, and the welcome comments of Councillor Lewis Simpson.
This vital system has to function well for all our sakes and particularly for the young people involved.
As a member of the Perth and Kinross Children’s Panel advisory committee up to 2012 it sometimes felt like watching a very, very slow train wreck as the centrally-led reforms alienated the very volunteers on which the system depends.
The main argument for reform is quality control and equity across all parts of the country a praiseworthy thing, but I think that changes have not been managed well and the timescale has been outrageously long.
Centralisation of all aspects of the justice system didn’t, I believe, feature in any party’s manifesto but that is what we now have.
Local authorities have been written out of the script and are left to wring their hands on the sidelines.
It makes it puzzling that Perth and Kinross have such a bland response.
The Scottish Government needs to get its eye on the ball and make sure we have a system fit for purpose.
George Hayton. 6 Montgomery Way, Kinross.
Monstrosity is for what?
Sir, The “safety” structure on South Street, Cupar, purports to be a necessary obstruction to prevent what?
Does Fife Council have a large file of accident reports which substantiate the need for this monstrosity? Or is this just another product from the brain of a bureaucratic, under-employed person who accepts any proposal no matter where it comes from to make it appear that its originator is extremely hardworking?
AA Bullions. 6 Glencairn Crescent, Leven.
Need to enforce existing law
Sir, As a mobility scooter user myself I couldn’t agree more with Ian Malcom’s comments about pavement parking. In some places one could be forgiven for thinking that double yellow lines do not mean “No Parking” but “It’s OK to park here as long as you’re far enough on the pavement to block wheelchairs and buggies.”
However, I don’t think there is any need for the law to be changed, just better enforcement of the existing one. It may not be illegal to park on the pavement, but it is certainly an offence to drive on a footway and you can’t do one without the other.
Three points and an £80 fine might ensure free passage for the disabled, and young mothers.
Laurie Richards. 100 Crail Road, Cellardyke.
NHS is in good hands in Angus
Sir, Every day there are negative stories of def-iciencies in the NHS. My recent experience of two invasive procedures at Stracathro and Ninewells were strikingly different from what one would expect from an NHS in crisis.
From first seeing my overworked GP to the treatment it was all completed in a short time.
The staff were welcoming and reassuring, and ensured I understood what was to take place. They treated me with the greatest courtesy.
The doctors and nurses delivered a very professional service despite seeming to have full lists.
The NHS is in good hands in Angus and I for one am very grateful about that.
AG Walker. Puddledub Cottage, Guthrie, Forfar.
Hope for signs of recovery
Sir, It’s good news that unemployment in Scotland has fallen according to the latest official labour market figures. Meanwhile, in construction, the latest figures show a 4% decline in employment within the Scottish industry over the 12 months to September 2014.
We hope to see signs of a rebound in employment numbers when updated figures for the end of last year are published next month. But these figures underline once again the major skills challenge the industry now faces.
Our number one priority remains to recruit more people into the Scottish construction sector. Otherwise, a shortage of skilled labour could become a major headwind for future growth.
Vaughan Hart. Managing Director, Scottish Building Federation, Crichton House, Edinburgh.
Couthy and inoffensive
Sir, Despite all the debate and arguments about a new national anthem for Scotland which could go on forever why not simply consider two of the songs by the late Andy Stewart, which were sung regularly on the BBC’s White Heather Club? Come In, Come In (It’s nice to see you, etc) and Haste Ye Back.
The words of both, are couthy, friendly and inoffensive without any link to politics, violence, hatred or discrimination and have a good lilt. Just a thought.
John McDonald. 14 Rosebery Court, Kirkcaldy.