Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Recently, I was once again fortunate enough to avoid by inches an accident with a cyclist on the pavement. My only fault was not checking my mirrors and looking over my shoulder before indicating and turning right to cross the road but, as a pedestrian, I am not equipped with mirrors, brake lights and indicators.
It is difficult to understand why there are little or no cycling proficiency lessons in schools when one considers the new way of thinking green travel and fitness for all.
This is the second such close call I have had recently. I am not calling for children to be forced on to the road, but there must be an age cut-off for the safety of both infirm and aged pedestrians.
If I am hit by a bicycle at my age, it could lead to serious life-changing injuries, whereas the cyclist at least has head protection. Should this be recommended for pedestrians? Mirrors on one’s shoulders and body protection? Or would it be easier to prosecute the cyclist?
Let’s be clear, the law is vague, police action is haphazard at best and prosecution is rare. This is the worst scenario, where there is a grey area people will abuse it.
Walk through the city centre most days and you will see dangerous cycling, where the cyclist expects everyone to keep walking in the same direction, without stopping to look in windows or chat.
If the police cannot act on these occasions then they should say so; if they admit defeat then it would be better to make it legal so everyone knows that the danger exists, is legal and is to be expected.
But is it too much to ask that cyclists dismount when there is no option other than pavement routes?
Arthur Gall,Pitalpin Court,Dundee.
Thank you, Ninewells
Readers, – Why can’t we be thankful to everyone in Ninewells Hospital? We should be grateful for the jobs they are doing and stop criticising.
An organisation of this size is bound to have its blips, but they just go right on doing what they do best healing and caring. These nurses are not paid to hold your hand when the pain gets bad; they certainly don’t get paid for whispering, ”you’re doing just fine, just two more minutes, pet” when you see that large needle approaching!
In fact, if it hadn’t been for a lot of pain and various unpleasant procedures, I would have enjoyed the experience the feeling of knowing your’re in the safe hands of experts. Nowhere in the world would ordinary folks get this sort of attention and caring without forking out large amounts of cash.
So, if you have to go to Ninewells Hospital, please, please don’t be frightened apart from the pain, needles, blood letting etc, these people are there to help you.
And I, for one, am so very grateful to them.
God bless you all.
Dorothy Kennedy,Kilmany Road,Fife.
No way out for unemployed
Sir, – I refer to the article on Scotland’s jobless figures, and the gloomy reading it makes.
I would suggest that there are three reasons for this appalling figure.
Firstly, the Labour government for agreeing to the Free Movement Of Workers in 2004 instead of standing up to Europe, which has caused a mass unmanageable influx of Eastern Europeans to Scotland.
Secondly, local employers who have a social and moral responsibility to reduce unemployment locally are taking on migrant workers and are not doing anything to help unemployment at all.
And thirdly, not wanting to be a prophet of doom, but while the UK government is refusing to listen to its people and give us a referendum on Europe, I cannot see the situation for jobless Scots getting any better.
Gordon Kennedy,Simpson Square,Perth
Risk of getting left behind
Sir, – In a typically negative Friends of the Earth reaction to anything new, Mary Church (Letters, October 18) brands fracking as risky, while calling for a review to decide if it does have any risks.
The fact that the USA and Australia are pressing ahead with this process to good commercial advantage should be a positive indicator.
By the time the Government undertakes a review, and assesses public acceptance of fracking, we will be in the next decade and lagging behind as usual.
In any event, why does a technical advance have to be acceptable to the public?
When they are sitting in the dark due to the failure of our rich and abundant supply of useless windmills, the public won’t give a hoot.
Malcolm Parkin.Gamekeepers Road,Kinross.
Perth should lead the way
Sir, – The most common problem for causing disruption to traffic throughout Britain is lorries hitting bridges. What have we done to prevent this from happening? Nothing.
So, what we should do is provide better signing to prevent lorries accessing roads that have low bridges and clearly signpost through routes for high loads.
Brian Porter,Perth.
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.