Sir, For some time I have been concerned about the amount of litter and dog waste being discarded around our city and countryside.
It is now at the stage where we, as a community, must say enough is enough and take decisive action against the large section of society responsible for this blight on our environment.
I say large because the amount of waste I see discarded does not equate to the “minority” that we keep hearing about.
On a recent walk around my area there was barely a patch that was not blighted by litter, overflowing dog bins or green dog bags full but discarded at the most convenient point for the owners.
Obviously education and the soft pedal approach has failed miserably and the time has come for decisive enforcement action to be taken against the people who have no regard for their own or other people’s environment.
I would be ashamed to take a visitor on a walk around as I think it reflects on the standards we as a community are willing to tolerate. What it says to me is: “don’t give a damn”.
If I was on a visit to my area on Sunday I can assure you I would not be back in a hurry.
This scourge is a national one but until we get to grips with it we can look forward to our areas looking more like a wasteland than the green and pleasant place that it should be.
Jim McCormack. Panmuirfield, Broughty Ferry.
Put own house in order first
Sir, Gamekeepers say they are concerned about the tail docking ban for working dogs taking so long to be overturned. I am sure the government will do the right thing, but perhaps the Scottish Gamekeepers Association should put their own house in order first with regard to the poisoning of our eagles and other birds of prey.
This has gone on for many decades and it is obvious the bad sporting estates and the keepers who work there are still willing to risk prosecution and decent keepers and estates often get tarred with the same brush.
James Sorley. 105 Perry Road, Edzell.
Grand old lady still afloat
Sir, What an alarming account, in Friday’s Courier, of the dramatic events in Victoria Dock! It was a great relief to read that both the North Carr Lightship and the Frigate Unicorn appear to be undamaged.
The port authority is to be congratulated although I am sure that Lt Cdr Roderick Stewart would, as ever, have matters well under control, and the Scottish country dancers would bring their grace and sense of balance to bear on the situation.
This nocturnal emergency only serves to remind us what a treasure we have in the Unicorn: amazingly strong to withstand this shock, too, after 190 years afloat! We are extremely fortunate to have her and it is to be hoped she may have a well-deserved place close to the V&A, and RRS Discovery, in the burgeoning waterfront development.
Helen Lawrenson. 51 Bay Road, Wormit.
Such a lack of ‘council talent’
Sir, It is depressing to hear our elected representatives talk yet say nothing really. It sounds like arrogance and suggests they are in a very different place, far from the voters they are sworn to serve.
Public contracts, for example, should be an aspiration and motivation for local business and appropriate local entrepreneurs should fill the top of the contractors list.
A machine could choose the lowest from a list of numbers and we would have no need of councillors. Are we so bereft of talent in local councils that nobody can negotiate a local contract which would provide value for money?
Value for money should always be the main criterion as cheap may bite back. In any event, surely it is the obligation of our representatives to help guide and encourage the people they serve, which includes safeguarding jobs?
Alan Bell. Roods, Kirriemuir.
Servant of the people
Sir, The people of Broughty Ferry are very fortunate indeed to have had a candidate of the high calibre of Bob Servant.
However, it appears from your survey published in Saturday’s Courier that they do not see the potential of being represented by a politician with the level of skill that Mr Servant has demonstrated over the past weeks.
Incidentally, the BBC should be commended on this high-quality reality show; it really gave viewers an insight into what goes on in the beautiful minds of politicians.
However, should Mr Servant still wish to pursue his political dreams, I suggest that he stands for election to Angus Council.
We already have several politicians of Mr Servant’s calibre serving the people of Angus and I am sure that he would find many colleagues who would welcome him on to the Angus team.
The dog mess in Arbroath, is I am sure, something that he could really get his teeth into straightaway.
Fiona McClymont. 5 Camus Place, Craigton of Monikie.