Friday’s correspondents write in about supermarkets, GP dispensary services, turbines, the V&A at Dundee, a perceived invasion of privacy, and a correction.
Supermarket threat to Pitlochry businessesSir, I like Sainsbury’s, in the right sort of place, stocking food and non-food goods like clothes and kitchen and electronic hardware (May 25).
Pitlochry, however, a highland town and mecca for tourists, is already well supplied by shops selling such a range of products.
It seems doubtful to this frequent visitor that expansion of retail is needed, indeed, a big supermarket risks ruin for many smaller businesses.
Was the sounding of local opinion entirely valid and representative?
The standardisation of Britain’s retail shops on its high streets tends to rob them of local individuality and cannot help tourism, so perhaps tourists and those locals in favour will come to regret this development.
It all seems a pity to me.
(Dr) Charles Wardrop.111 Viewlands Road West,Perth.Dispensing fight goes onSir, I write with reference to your article (May 25) on the forced closure of dispensing facilities at Balmullo surgery just because there is a pharmacy at Leuchars.
The decision by NHS Fife to close dispensing services from the GP surgery from May 2012 will come as a horrendous blow to patients as well as GPs and staff, more especially since the health authority at first decided dispensing could remain.
Dr Brian Montgomery, medical director for NHS Fife apologised for the inconvenience. No concern about patients’ views then?
And there is no right of appeal either, just to rub it in. Yet again, the voice of patients has been ignored by a health authority which continues to demonstrate it is more interested in political dogma than patient services.
There is absolutely no legal reason why dispensing cannot continue regardless of how many pharmacies are opened.
Now that this decision to close dispensing services at Balmullo has been been made, Save Our Dispensing Surgeries will continue to fight for a right to retain our dispensing GP services not just locally but all over Scotland.
Alan Kennedy.3 Smithy Lane,Balmullo.Let museum site breatheSir, I was one of the very lucky ones to hear Kengo Kuma talk about his work and proposals for the new V&A planned for Dundee.
How fortunate we are to be getting a building of truly international importance. There were a number of questions asked during Saturday’s talk but, due to the pressure of time, I was unable to get my question aired.
The waterfront masterplan shows a huge green square centred on the stage door of Caird Hall and seems to predate the proposals for the new V&A museum as it bears no relationship to it.
This green could be moved to be adjacent to RRS Discovery so that when pedestrians approach from town they see the museum, rather than a series of speculative buildings and a hotel.
A museum of such high quality needs a setting to match, which, of course, includes the view and approach from the land side.
Steuart Watson.10 Ancrum Gardens,Dundee.Land blighted by new ‘cash crop’Sir, Landowners have discovered a profitable cash crop which grows very well on the foothills north of the Central Belt.
Already it has appeared from Stirling to central Fife. Spring is the ideal time to plant, so the planning authorities are being inundated with applications to grow these golden beans.
The situation is exacerbated by the banks advising farmers to get in while the loan cash lasts.
This crop also ensures an increased income for the planters.
The problem is that these “beans” grow to heights of 50 to 120 metres and totally disfigure the scenic beauty of the local area.
The crop is, of course, the wind turbine, which, on average, only produces 24% of its green energy capacity – confirmed by the John Muir Trust’s figures over a two-year period surveying Scottish wind farm output. The owners of these monsters receive a feed-in tariff, an 8% subsidy which is added to electricity bills and paid by consumers.
Jack, by diversification of his cropping rotation by planting a giant bean stalk, has caused much heartache for his neighbours.
Peter Fogg.Dunduff House,Dunfermline.Invasion of privacySir, I write to record a note of unease about your photograph (May 24) of the Rev Scott Rennie taking communion at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Regardless of who was pictured, I do not think that it is appropriate to photograph and then print someone taking communion.
Readers may be interested to know that this same unease was voiced on the floor of the assembly by a former moderator and I would guess that one or two guidelines will follow.
Malcolm Rooney.The Glens and KirriemuirOld Parish.Assistance for young musiciansSir, While appreciating your drawing to attention to the work of Perth and Kinross Music Foundation (May 24), I must point that 75 is not the total number of pupils given help by the Foundation since 1997 but the number supported in each year since then.
It is through the grants we make that these youngsters are enabled to start or continue in instrumental tuition. With fees amounting to about £300 per annum, it can be appreciated how important it is for us to appeal for donations to allow us to maintain help.
Sigurd Scott.Perth and Kinross Music Foundation,Kirkhall Road,Almondbank.
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.