Sir, – May I be allowed, through your column, to address the organisers of the Enchanted Forest?
The experience you have created is awe-inspiring and the work is invaluable and monumental, for this I take my hat off to you.
But oh dear, the parking in Pitlochry on the night – or to be precise, the No Parking on the night was concerning. We came, two sets of grandparents, with respective son, daughter and grandson to enjoy the event.
Staying in Aberfeldy, we had no choice but to drive on the night.
The minute we reached the high street we were confronted with the chaos of traffic around us, which meant finding somewhere to park was not only going to be difficult, but nigh impossible.
As time passed it became nightmarish.
Drivers were tooting horns and gesturing, all desperate to park, and we were also aware we had time slots to catch buses at Fishers Hotel.
Eventually we parked and recovered enough to enjoy the evening.
On our return, we discovered that between us we received two parking tickets, and I doubt we would have been the only ones.
On our return journey from the forest to Fishers Hotel a soothing voice on the tannoy urged us to purchase tickets for next year’s event.
So, organisers I would like to make a heart felt plea before then, can you please sort out the very real parking problem – or at least issue a warning on tickets as to what people driving to Pitlochry will be met with?
We will pay the fines as we are law-abiding citizens, but we won’t return as unfortunately our memories of the experience of the Enchanted Forest will be far from magical.
Mrs Margaret Ross.
35 Dulaig Court,
Grantown on Spey.
Turkey’s genocidal attack
Sir, – The world is watching as Turkey continues its genocidal attack on the Kurds in North East Syria, and the “international community” still does nothing.
This is an unprovoked assault and Turkey even announced its intention to carry out ethnic cleansing of the Kurds to the UN, but still nothing was done to stop them.
It seems if there are no British or American interests involved in an international crisis, genocide and mayhem is alright.
This is why, all over the world, people are protesting and demanding that their governments take action and respond to the Kurds’ calls for a no-fly zone, and for effective sanctions against Turkey.
We should also remember that taking holidays in Turkey helps to fund the genocidal Turkish state.
Turkey has targeted civilians, hospitals, and water supplies, and has loaded weapons with white phosphorus.
When the Turkish offensive came the pace and scale of events that followed was astonishing.
Videos quickly emerged of Turkish-backed groups and militias committing war crimes by executing Kurds on the roadside.
US President Donald Trump’s decision to indulge Turkey’s President Erdogan’s ambitions in Syria was characteristically whimsical and unilateral.
Defence officials first learned of it from Twitter.
Dermot O’Sullivan.
8 Law Street,
Dundee.
Will they protest in Chile?
Sir, – Chilean President Sebastian Pinera has cancelled the major United Nations climate change conference to be held in December due to mass protests.
These violent protests were sparked by the expensive climate policies, just like France’s Yellow Vest protests, which forced President Macron to cancel the proposed green taxes, including an increase in fuel duty.
The cancellation of the climate change conference in Chile is surely shocking.
Surely Extinction Rebellion (XR) and their supporters will go to Chile, confront the protestors there, and tell them they are selfish, and should be trying to “save the planet”?
Oh wait a minute.
XR have not demonstrated in China, India or Russia, the countries tare responsible for over 40% of global emissions.
Does this mean Chile can be added to the list of countries that XR will avoid staging their protests in?
Clark Cross.
138 Springfield Road
Linlithgow.
Meter not a ‘smart’ choice
Sir, – I had my “relic” meters changed to smart meters a few years ago.
I have since changed energy providers and lo and behold, the fancy new smart meters are not compatible with my new provider’s systems.
Smart Meters that are not so smart me thinks.
Christine Howe.
26 Rothes Park,
Leslie, Fife.
The unelected who govern us
Sir, – I agree with Mr Jack Phimister (“Kirkcaldy needs its own council”, Letters, October 28) on one aspect.
We, the public, do not have a democratic say in who governs us.
First of all we should have an elected head of state instead of the present monarchical system, which costs us £350 million per annum to maintain and protect – there are a lot of them!
Secondly we have an unelected second house in parliament with 830 members at £48,000 each per annum(for a total cost of about £400m per annum).
America, which has three times the population of the UK, has 100 elected members in its second house, two for each state – a huge differential.
If we must have a second house the least they can do is let us choose them, although personally I do not see the need for them.
We already pay for 650 MPS to make decisions for us at £57,000 per annum each, plus expenses.
The House of Lords is just a talking shop for the old boy network, with no real power.
Yet every year our elected representatives are summoned like sheep to stand before the monarch and her Lords and listen attentively.
I would like to hear the argument defending this obviously unfair discrepancy.
Alister Rankin.
93 Whyterose Tce,
Methil, Leven.
Real Brexit debate is hidden
Sir, – What has hampered a reasoned Brexit debate since 2016 is that it is seen by the media, particularly in London, as a purely political matter.
In reality, being a member of the EU influences 1,001 aspects of our lives which we have comfortably taken for granted. Television and radio shows constantly interview politicians, but rarely if ever, interview businessmen.
You don’t hear from the traders, exporters, or those in the NHS, the police, academia, security services, farming, retailing, banking, finance, airlines and haulage.
These are all the sectors facing severe consequences as a result of hard Brexit.
To draw an analogy: suppose Britain was debating and voting on a major ethical issue, but only the clergy were allowed to speak and be broadcast in the media?
It would cause a national outrage.
Yet we meekly accept this near-monopoly granted to politicians, over the Brexit debate.
Politicians who, because of the December 12 election, will now enjoy six weeks of total monopoly at a crucial time for a Brexit debate.
No wonder the rest of the world thinks Britain has lost the plot.
Brian Townsend.
Whitehouse of Kirkinch,
Meigle, Blairgowrie.
