Sir, – Your correspondent T. Gardner (September 2) is quite right when he says that many of the “migrants” look well fed and dressed.
The media persistently refer to them as poor, desperate migrants, but I do not believe any of these terms apply.
Poor they are not, as they have already paid thousands of pounds to people traffickers to get them into Europe and apparently still have thousands more to pay to traffickers to get them into the UK.
Neither are they desperate, for if they were, they would have claimed asylum in the first peaceful country they came to.
Instead, they prolong their “desperation” in order to get to the places that will give them the best system of benefits.
They are also not migrants because by making use of illegal means to get into countries like the UK, they have made themselves illegal immigrants.
I feel for these people, but I also feel that a great many of them are not so much refugees, more economic illegal immigrants who are taking advantage of our generosity and our culture of magnanimity.
It is not a surprise that this tidal wave of illegal immigrants is manifesting.
As long ago as the 1970s, Jean Raspail warned of it in his graphic novel, Camp Of the Saints, a book that has remained in print, and selling well, right up until now.
What I find totally surprising is the response, or lack of it, from our politicians of all persuasions, which varies from the “talk a lot but do nothing” stance of the Conservative Government, to “let’s welcome all of them into Scotland” from our own SNP government.
This, plus the media’s persistence in referring to them in euphemistic terms, makes me wonder if there is not a hidden political agenda at work here?
(Captain) Ian F. McRae. 17 Broomwell Gardens, Monikie.
Blunder over Montrose site
Sir, – I have just finished reading the report (September 2) on the South Links caravan site fiasco in Montrose.
What were the council and officers thinking about when they off-loaded what was a nice little seaside caravan park, which, thanks to some investment, was beginning to show a small profit by 2007.
I would remind the people of Montrose that this is part of the town’s Common Good, so they should be asking questions.
Perhaps I am just a wee bit cynical, suspicious, but I suspected all along that something was wrong with this deal.
How could the council waive rent, which presumably was payable to the Common Good Fund?
How could they justify giving what appears to have been a substantial interest-free loan to a company that owed them money for rents?
Why did the council fail to stop the sale of full residential homes and sites to folk who have no rights to occupy them full time?
This case must be properly investigated and if necessary a public inquiry held.
There seems to be a clear case of at least negligence by someone.
Bill Crowe. 80 Castle Street, Montrose.
Act to protect communities
Sir, – The recent bluster from fracking and coal gasification firms such as Algy Cluff’s and Ineos must be resisted.
As a member of the steering group, Broad Alliance, a coalition of Scottish communities opposed to onshore and near-shore unconventional oil and gas development, I stand with communities in opposing untested and unnecessary gas extraction.
I am also a candidate for Fife Greens in the Glenrothes West and Kinglassie by-election.
Only Greens have always been clear and consistent about the need to protect our communities and not be distracted away from the real economic opportunities we have in renewables.
The Scottish Government, which has the planning powers to rule out unconventional gas extraction, promised a consultation by March, yet it could be November before this begins.
This slow pace is giving corporate interests the chance to influence government thinking, while communities and local planners lack the funds and policies for a fair fight. We know we already have ess to more fossil fuels than we can afford to burn if we want to limit climate change and we know of examples of bans elsewhere.
The opportunity to end the uncertainty hanging over the Central Belt is clear. Scottish ministers must act.
Lorna Ross. 35 Commercial Street, Markinch.
Give police time to settle down
Sir, – George Thomson’s proposal (September 1) to scrap Police Scotland would repeat the mistake I have seen repeatedly in big corporations.
A huge “change programme” is launched.
For a couple of years there is stress and disruption as people try to adapt while doing their normal jobs.
Then, when improved results are not visible quickly enough, the pot is stirred again.
The only people to benefit are the hugely expensive consultants who are wheeled in once more and the senior managers who are promoted on their ability to talk fast and loud, while being seen to “do something” as opposed to achieving results.
Those who do not benefit from this state of permanent revolution are the stressed staff doing the real work that brings in the money and the customers who provide that cash.
This is one lesson that governments can learn from the private sector.
Big reforms take time to bed in.
A state of constant change keeps morale and service levels low.
A period of 29 months is too short to assess whether a national police force can work.
There were legitimate concerns before Police Scotland was created.
These remain and should be addressed within the current set up, rather than giving up and starting again.
James Christie. 2 Dryburgh Crescent, Perth.
Give families day in court
Sir, – The Lord Advocate has appeared on television and been quoted in the press giving his reasons as to why the Crown decided not to prosecute the driver of the lorry involved in the fatalities in Glasgow.
The reason advanced being that as the driver was unconscious at the time of the fatal accidents, he was not capable of making decisions and, therefore, criminal intent could not be proved.
In those circumstances there would be little prospect of a conviction for any driving offence.
Knowing what we do now from the evidence heard at the FAI, there must surely be a case for bringing a prosecution against the driver for the Scots Law common-law crime of culpable and reckless conduct.
This would be on the basis that the driver was well aware that he was subject to fainting episodes, concealed this information from his employers and continued to drive with the tragic consequences that ensued.
It appears that the law officers have not looked at this possibility.
Perhaps someone will nudge them in that direction and give the families of the victims their often talked about “day in court.
George Thomson. 44 Viewforth Place, Pittenweem.
Unite to upgrade A92 in Fife
Sir, – Ten councillors, six MPs and six MSPs represent the area that runs along the length of the A92 from Redhouse roundabout in Kirkcaldy to the Tay Road Bridge.
Can they find common ground, together with the various community councils, on getting Transport Scotland to deal with the road hazards along the route?
It does seem that a united front is the only way to get the Scottish Government to commit the finance, preferably straight away, but certainly in the next financial year.
Fife Council’s wish list for action contrasts with the more limited priorities of central government.
If a compromise is to be reached it will only come about by local elected representatives working together, not in a piecemeal fashion.
It will mean that Fife Council should put aside for the moment its ambitions for the entire route to be dualled.
There is no sign of consensus on this from either individuals or community groups.
It is a long-term aspiration which most of us are unlikely to see in our lifetime.
However, I cannot see why Kirkcaldy MSP David Torrance, Glenrothes MSP Tricia Marwick and North East Fife MSP Rod Campbell and their counterparts at Westminster cannot put together their combined resources to try to get most of the identified hazards dealt with.
Their work can be carried on by whoever is elected to the Scottish Parliament next May.
It will need an unusual amount of political co-operation but it might be worth it if injuries can be reduced and lives along one of east Scotland’s most hazardous routes are to be saved.
Bob Taylor. 24 Shiel Court, Glenrothes.
No telephone for six weeks
Sir, – I was interested to read of the residents of Northwater Bridge being without phone or broadband. We too have been cut off for six weeks, though I understand for some residents in Brechin it is nearer to 14.
We too were told it was a telegraph pole, then an underground cable. Do Openreach have a standard set of excuses when dealing with fed-up customers?
Rev Dr Roderick J Grahame. 14 Channonry Wynd, Brechin.
Get tough over risky lifestyles
Sir, – Perhaps now is the time for more state intervention to solve many of our social problems.
Take smoking-related problems and obesity for example. Treatment costs the NHS megabucks.
If firms were encouraged to hire non-smokers and healthy people generally, people would soon get their bodies into shape.
Productivity would increase while sick leave would decrease.
This could only be good for employers and the country as a whole.
It is time doctors laid down markers.
The message should be, shape up or ship out.
Bob Smart. 55 Bellevue Gardens, Arbroath.