Sir, – I have recently retired after 40 years’ employment at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
There is not millions of pounds wasted on trivial items.
Ninewells was built almost 40 years ago and it needs millions spent on it to refurbish it and keep the building suitable for modern medical care.
Modern equipment and operations cost a great deal more now than 20-plus years ago.
Almost every department has fewer staff now than they did 30 years ago.
My old department has gone from 120 to the low 60s and they cannot get suitable applicants to fill the vacant posts due to poor wages compared to industry norms.
However, while I was a simple engineer, surely if NHS Tayside is millions of pounds overspent each year for the last 15 or so, does it not mean they are vastly underfunded to provide the medical needs of the area rather than wasting money?
Gordon Fotheringham.
1 Woodland Way,
Kingoodie,
Dundee.
Throw out this application
Sir, – Two years ago I bought a townhouse in Abbey Park, St Andrews, built by Robertson Property Ltd.
Selling points included its Georgian-style design (a modern take on many of St Andrews’ older terraces) and the absence of students as immediate neighbours.
I’m a native of St Andrews and have no gripe with students per se. The town largely depends on them. But as those living alongside HMOs can testify, students’ lifestyles are vastly dissimilar to those of working families who need their sleep, and older people seeking a peaceful retirement.
I looked forward to moving to the tranquillity described in Robertson’s sales brochure: “A peaceful setting close to the town centre… within the lush grounds of Abbey Park… a joy to live in.”
Imagine the sense of betrayal that Robertson now plan to destroy this peaceful setting by building residences for more than 100 students in two utilitarian concrete blocks to be situated directly in front of the elegant Georgian-style townhouses depicted in their brochure.
Worse, Robertson plan to shoehorn into the same 1.62 acre site a 100-bedroom hotel.
Little wonder that an action group of incensed Abbey Park residents and tenants of Freeborn Court, which has several young families, has been set up to fight a development which would totally overwhelm the mixed residential concept originally marketed by Robertson.
Its development plan for one of the last pieces of open space close to the centre of St Andrews is nothing short of urban vandalism. I urge the planning authorities to throw it out in its entirety.
Ted Brocklebank.
Abbey House.
Orchard Row,
St Andrews.
Value of art has been ignored
Sir, – I was disturbed to read that a proposal has been made by Monifieth councillor Ben Lawrie for Angus Council to consider raising funds by selling its art collection.
You quote him as saying: “I’m sure they’re of significant cultural value but I don’t see how this benefits the average Angus resident.”
In making the statement he is simply wrong and I would be happy to explain to him the basics of how arts and culture inform our inner lives and enhance our emotional existence.
Those are things of immense value to everyone. Art is not a luxury. It enriches lives and leads us to aspire to be more than we are.
When addressing Mr Lawrie, however, I understand such an explanation is likely to fall on deaf ears.
Instead, let me point him at any of the analyses of the measurable impact on society, the economy, education, health and wellbeing that arts and culture have.
He might start here.
Our arts and culture are a strategic resource.
In a period when communities scramble to be awarded city of culture status, when major refurbishment of theatres and art galleries take place in communities on either side of Angus and when Dundee systematically invests in reinventing its cultural life, Mr Lawrie wants to sell the cultural assets of Angus.
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for life says the proverb. Angus has a whole sea of fish. It just needs its councillors to stop trying to wipe them out.
Your job, Mr Lawrie, is not to cover over the failings of your budget by selling the art collection.
It is to act in a manner worthy of the trust placed in you by the community and find a way to make the region’s assets contribute to the coffers. The fact they do not currently do so is not their failing. It is yours.
Professor John Morrison.
History of Art,
University of Aberdeen.
Look at turnout in new light
Sir, – I had a sad shake of the head at the letter regarding the mention of a 42% turnout at the Catalan referendum (October 14).
Did Mr Clements not see the reaction by riot police to the queues at the polling stations?
If I were a resident and saw the outrageous treatment of citizens waiting to vote, I may have decided to stay at home and not vote either.
I wouldn’t like to risk being dragged along the street, thrown to the ground or beaten with a baton. How many people stayed away or were prevented from voting?
Were some polling stations closed by riot police?
Therefore, a 42% turnout has to be looked at in a new light.
In fact, the police may have been removing voters who were in favour of remaining, but we’ll never know due to Madrid’s heavy-handed attitude.
I’m not stating any support for the Catalans, simply that 42% should not be commented on in such a disparaging tone.
Gerard Dignan.
17e Denhead Crescent,
Dundee.
OECD cannot frighten us
Sir, – I am appalled at the audacity of the prophets of doom at the OECD warning of dire consequences if there is not a second referendum to reverse the decision by the majority of the British people to leave the EU.
They were the same doom merchants who predicted all sorts of calamities would happen if we voted leave, that did not happen. They are the same organisation that failed to predict the financial crisis.
They claim there will be a significant effect on growth in the UK when we leave the EU. That I do agree with.
There will be a significant increase in immigration, far worse than we have at the moment which will see many other things go into decline such as the NHS, education, social housing and British wages.
OECD threats of dire predictions failed to stop us from voting leave, therefore, they cannot frighten us into staying in a failing organisation.
Gordon Kennedy.
117 Simpson Square,
Perth.
