Sir, – I believe it is now generally accepted that car parking in Perth city centre is a major part of the problem for city- centre traders.
Although I am not particularly advocating the demolition of Perth City hall, if were to be the ultimate decision and Perth and Kinross Council is serious in addressing the plight of traders, a step in the right direction would be to utilise the area created by the demolition as a car park.
The central location would be ideal for such use and I would imagine it would increase considerably the footfall in the city centre, thereby relieving the traders’ present problem.
I would further suggest that the car park should be free for an hour for a trial period of a year after which the situation could be assessed.
I appreciate that to those in the council this may seem a pretty mundane use of a prime site but for those of us who have no option but to live in the real world, we have to be practical.
In times of austerity, best use should be made of what facilities we have at our disposal.
When traders are going out of business, every effort should be made to alleviate the situation. The council should realise we cannot afford the luxury of open space if other current plans fall through.
If the area were to become an open space, presumably it would be decorated with trees, shrubs, plants and seats.
I cannot imagine that such use of the area would contribute greatly to the plight of the city centre traders as the car parking problem would remain. The maintenance costs would have to be considered.
John Davie.
Rowanbank,
Collace.
Questions over heating pump
Sir, – Your article about the Tay heat pump failed to point out that the Conservative Group on Perth and Kinross Council expressed serious concern at the cost.
At a cost of £25,600 for each council house connected to get a saving of £100 or £200 per year, this is not good value for money.
How many private house owners would contemplate spending this amount on a heating system for such a poor return? We have asked the administration to look at these costs again.
Councillor Mac Roberts.
Leader of the Conservative Group,
Perth and Kinross Council.
Perth city is a drain on county
Sir, – I am fed up reading of the millions of pounds being spent on Perth city. Perth and Kinross covers a wide area and the capital expenditure is always at the detriment of market towns.
Perth and Kinross Council’s public transport provision for rural areas is a shambles, while money is spent on trivial projects for the benefit of Perth people only.
I note Perth bus station is so miserable that even the pigeons have left but, of course, this has no impact on Perth people who don’t have to use the place.
Andrew Brock.
1 Maxtone Terrace.
Gilmerton.
Barbaric way to treat animals
Sir, – There was a small piece on the news about a hunt in England where they had live-trapped two fox cubs which were given to a pack of young foxhounds live to kill.
This is worse than bad, it is inhumane. The people involved need to be jailed including the huntmasters and the owner of the estate.
I train and work dogs to retrieve shot game for a number of large estates who would never condone such actions. We, as dog trainers, would never consider using a live animal or bird at any time to train a dog.
Let’s see if the Leave decision gives our courts a few more teeth and more ability to handle such a terrible action, remembering that most of the hunting fraternity is true blue.
I used to have no problem with hunting. I lived for my first 21 years on a farm beside the Fife Fox Hounds at Montrave Estate near Leven.
I worked for the head keeper in the season. I was never involved in the hunt but I am sure the estate owner would not have condoned of the actions we saw on television.
I have now joined an anti-fox hunting group. No masks and protests but I will be more than vocal when given an opportunity.
George Sangster.
Woodlands,
Logie,
Montrose.
I am not a Lib-Dem councillor
Sir, – I was surprised to see that Willie Rennie MSP’s latest leaflet claims North East Fife Community Broadband project is being driven by Lib-Dem councillors.
Community Initiative North East Fife, to give it its full name, is a charitable company. It has two councillors on its board of directors. One is LibDem Councillor Elizabeth Riches and the other is a Conservative councillor, me.
Cllr Andy Heer.
53 Burnside,
Auchtermuchty.
Staggering boast by Mr Strachan
Sir, – I could not believe my ears when I heard Gordon Strachan claiming that our Scottish football team is better than some of the teams in Euro 2016.
Why are we not in France then?
I seriously find such a remark an insult to the intelligence of genuine Scottish football supporters.
I hope for his sake he makes it to the next World Cup, however, don’t hold your breath based on some of Gordon’s selections.
Mev Braid.
Kinkell Avenue,
Glenrothes.
No need for new Scottish poll
Sir, – It really is time to accept the EU referendum result and move on.
After all, surely it was a once-in-a-generation vote?
Complaining about the result of 52% for Leave is almost as ridiculous as decrying a 55% result against independence at the Scottish referendum.
As the political landscape is now ripe with opportunity, be it for Gibraltar, Ireland or Scotland, the main theme is the same: we have all had enough of being colonies to a rapidly-falling empire for which the sun is about to set for the final time.
And as far as a second independence referendum is concerned, why bother? It is already clear what the result will be.
Richard Clark.
Craigton,
Monikie.
Poorly educated British voters
Sir, – If school pupils were asked to sit an examination on a subject for which they had no education it would be considered unfair.
The referendum falls into a similar category.
The majority of the United Kingdom population does not have the education to answer many of the questions which arose in deciding which way to vote.
It appears that the politicians who have led us into the quagmire created by the referendum result are no better equipped to know how to deal with our future.
Many of their assumed positions seem to unravel before their very eyes. Supposition and expectation are no substitute for facts.
AA Bullions.
6 Glencairn Crescent,
Leven.
Young must show respect
Sir, – I am saddened by the absolute vitriol being displayed by disgruntled Remain voters to the older generations who voted Leave at last week’s EU referendum.
It seems that those who never knew any different have not an ounce of respect for those who do.
The older generation, many of whom went to war for our freedom or experienced hardship through rationing in recent times, have seen a great change in their communities.
Some no longer recognise where they grew up because of uncontrolled EU immigration, political correctness and far too much control for Brussels.
The young people of this country need to accept this is democracy and to show some respect.
Gordon Kennedy.
117 Simpson Square,
Perth.