Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – The recent accident fatality at the Tibbermore junction on the Perth to Madderty road has highlighted a serious failing by our roads authorities.
The Courier report (”Survivor of smash slams danger road”, October 6) quotes locals as saying foliage and hedges screen the view for cars entering the junction, but Perth and Kinross Council says it is the responsibility of private landowners to deal with overgrown hedges and that the local authority is only in a position to demand action when a complaint is made.
I fondly imagined (silly me!) that our roads authorities, whether local or national, were responsible for road safety and that they regularly inspected all our roads to ensure they were safe and remained safe.
Two factors may be influencing the situation: firstly, shortage of money and, secondly, political correctness, instigated by the green lobby, persuading local authorities not to cut back verges and hedges because of the possible damage to wild flowers and nesting birds.
There seems to be plenty of money around to put road humps on quiet side streets with little traffic, but none to keep busier roads safe.
If the law does not dictate that roads authorities should keep junctions clear, then common sense and common decency should.
George K. McMillan.5 Mount Tabor Avenue,Perth.
The damage done by ants
Sir, – Leslie Milligan is wrong to dismiss mankind’s effect on the planet as being like an ant on the Titanic (Letters, October 10). Atmospheric CO2 levels have risen from pre-industrial levels of 280ppm to nearly 400ppm, and all down to humans.
Humans have felled most of Earth’s forests, commandeered around half its land surface, modified the flow of more than half its rivers, and have accelerated erosion by an order of magnitude.
To imagine this will not harm the planet is perverse. One ant may not damage the Titanic, but seven billion working in concert to nibble away at every crucial part will.
Dr Stephen Moreton.33 Marina Avenue,Great Sankey,Warrington.
Highlands and high prices
Sir, – In The Courier on October 10, a delivery firm called Emery Mail Order Ltd considered Perth to be part of the Scottish Highlands because their external delivery companies say so.
I would suggest Emery Mail Order Ltd use the Royal Mail for all future deliveries, as it charges the same price whether you live in Perth or here in Bruichladdich, with no surcharges and prompt delivery.
Douglas W. Tott.Bruichladdich,Isle of Islay.
Growth must begin at home
Sir, – Alex Salmond is constantly berating the UK Government for not investing in infrastructure projects as a way of helping to grow the economy.
But when we look at the two major current infrastructure activities in Scotland the new Forth road bridge and thousands of wind turbines what do we see?
Rather than benefiting Scotland, many of the contracts and, of course, the associated infrastructure investment have gone to overseas companies in China, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Ireland etc, thus benefiting their economies rather than ours.
How does that help to grow the Scottish economy?
GM Lindsay.Whinfield Gardens,Kinross.
Sharing the difficult load
Sir, – In these times of austerity, two groups seem not to be in it with the rest of us. I refer to trade union leaders and, of course, politicians.
If we are to get ourselves out of this crisis, remedial measures must include legislation to forbid strike action in all public services.
We cannot go on allowing bombastic bigmouths to instigate and encourage industrial strife at a whim, just because it furthers their political ambitions.
Most importantly, politicians must face the consequences of their ineptitude and self-indulgence. Of course we should censor bankers who behaved in such a contemptible fashion, but they could only do so because our elected leaders failed to control them.
We need fewer but more experienced politicians (thus a minimum age) and, meanwhile, let the incumbents share our troubles by cutting their salaries and expenses and abolishing their gold-plated pension scheme.
Jim Parker.9 Banchory Green,Glenrothes.
The real power lies elsewhere
Sir, – As the chilly days approach, it is interesting to note that the electricity being generated as I write is as follows:
Coal 19 Gigawatts Gas 15.4 Gigawatts Nuclear 7.10 Gigawatts Hydro 0.67 Gigawatts Wind 0.53 Gigawatts.
The EU will make us start to close coal-fired power stations from 2014, and the SNP won’t have nuclear.
With friends like those we don’t need enemies.
Malcolm Parkin.15 Gamekeepers Road,Kinnesswood.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL. Letters should be accompanied by an address and a daytime telephone number.