This morning’s letters to The Courier discuss land values, taxis in Dundee, events in Egypt, Labour and Lockerbie, and a disappointing trip to Arbroath.
Land-value tax would ease housing shortage
Sir,-What your correspondent Mr Ron Greer has written about the significance of the location value of housing land in St Andrews (February 8) is seemingly well founded.
A director of an estate agency in my area has stated that while an ordinary 1970s modern detached house in the town would fetch £325,000, a similar property adjacent to the golf course could achieve close to a £1 million value.
Interestingly, St Andrews figured in A Fairer Way: Report by the Local Government Finance Review Committee, published by the LGFRC, under the chairmanship of Sir Peter Burt (Edinburgh, November 2006).
One piece of evidence given to the inquiry noted an extreme shortage of affordable housing in St Andrews, blamed on the council-tax exemption for properties occupied solely by students.
“This exemption in practice benefits landlords … rather than students themselves” (sub-section 14.25). This is a fine example of subsidies and tax breaks ending up appropriated by landholders.
Mr Greer advocates collection of an annual land rent charge to replace existing taxes including council tax.
The case is sound, on ethical, fiscal, and wider economic grounds. All that is missing is the will to proceed to its implementation.
David K. Mills.54, Woodway,Hutton,Brentwood.
No need for taxi number cap
Sir,-I was bemused by the dismissive comments from Joe FitzPatrick MSP (February 9), who said that an Edinburgh cabbie who contacted The Courier regarding the possible effects of a cap on taxi numbers in Dundee “will be reflecting his experiences” in the capital and should thus contact his local MSP to “pass on his views”.
However, it was Mr FitzPatrick, who, a couple of days earlier, was citing evidence from Perth and Edinburgh in support of the principle of capping numbers, so his latest stance is puzzling to say the least. And perhaps he could explain his claim that a cap on numbers would “improve professionalism” in the trade because all the evidence suggests that such matters are purely down to direct regulation rather than numerical controls.
For example, isn’t it the case that vehicle standards in Dundee are significantly better than when numbers were restricted a decade or so ago?
It is not that removing the numbers cap had anything to do with that. More relevant perhaps were quality-control measures implemented by the council, not to mention more competition in the sector.
Whatever the other arguments about capping taxi numbers, “improving professionalism” is surely a red herring.
Stuart Winton.Hilltown,Dundee.
We must accept Arab democracy
Sir,-George McMillan’s latest attack on those reporting the momentous events in Egypt is disgraceful, likewise is his support for the regime of Hosni Mubarak.
The reporting of events has been fair and balanced from Al Jazeera to the BBC.
He complained that news reports featured only those that demanded the resignation of Mubarak. It would have been difficult indeed to find anyone among the hundreds of thousands on the streets of Cairo otherwise minded.
Mr McMillan considers himself well read, nevertheless he has some hesitation in expressing an opinion regarding events in Egypt. Why the reticence? He is never at a loss to pontificate on a variety of subjects.
It is mischievous of him to describe the anti-Mubarak demonstrations as a riot. The only hint of trouble was when pro-Mubarak “supporters” tried to attack the demonstrators, otherwise the demonstrations were conducted with impressive dignity.
I have been to Egypt several times and seen the poverty and I marvel at the patience of Egyptians, who have put up with Mubarak for so long.
For decades the West has supported despots like Mubarak as Mr McMillan points out, as a bulwark against any united Arab opposition to Israel.
This cosy arrangement is now under threat. If democracy means anything, it is the right of people to decide their own government, Islamic or secular, without interference by the West.
James Smith.4 Brownhill Place,Dundee.
Hypocrisy over Lockerbie
Sir,-Gus O’Donnell, the Cabinet Secretary, concluded that Gordon Brown’s Labour administration assisted the Libyan regime in securing the release of the Lockerbie bomber.
I think we should be informed if Iain Gray or any other Labour MSP was consulted on the matter.
Was there any collusion between the Labour Government and Labour MSPs?
The Labour Party, in public, was emphatically against the release of the Lockerbie bomber but we now know they were doing the opposite in private. Hypocrisy is pretending to be what one is not.
Donald J. MacLeod.49 Woodcroft AvenueBridge of Don.
Museum disappointment
Sir,-After reading your interesting article on the Bell Rock Lighthouse last week, we decided to pay a visit to Arbroath and the Signal Tower Museum, which houses a replica of the lighthouse.
On arrival at Arbroath, we were most disappointed to find the museum closed, with no indication of an opening date.
We understand that a refurbishment programme has been ongoing since 2010 and feel that greater effort should have been made to have this completed before the celebrations.
(Mrs) A. M. Jackson.Craigard,Benvie Road,Fowlis.
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.