Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir,As a very regular visitor to the Backwater Dam, I would agree with the letter from Mrs “Carruthers (August 23) regarding the state of the car parks and picnic areas at the Backwater Dam.
I have been in touch with Scottish Water over the last two years regarding the state of the area and the misuse of it by some members of the public.
Towards the end of last year, I sent in photos of the results of vandalism in the toilets and car parks.
At the beginning of this season, Scottish Water produced new tables, new signs “(ignored by some) and new barriers at the end of the parking bays.
The toilets, both this year and last, were no sooner open than they were vandalised and had to be closedvery difficult to keep up with.
I contacted Scottish Water two weeks ago regarding the state of the grass, the bins and the fence along the dam.
Within two days, all the bins had been emptied, the grass had been cut at the bottom end of the dam and the fence had been repaired.
I believe the toilets at the bottom end of the dam have now been repaired and are open again and I imagine the ones at the top will get done at some point. Hopefully some regular agreement can be made by Scottish Water to empty the bins regularly and keep the grass and loos in order.
P. Brown.Meigle.
Picnic tables almost lost
Sir,I am grateful to your recent correspondent, Mrs Carruthers, for drawing attention to the “neglected state of the picnic site at Backwater Dam.
This has been a “favourite destination for my wife and I for many years but on a recent visit we were dismayed to see how neglected the site has become.
Not only has the grass been allowed to grow so long that the picnic tables are almost hidden but refuse containers are overflowing and have not been emptied for many months.
These are now probably a health hazard and not what would be expected at what was once an attractive beauty spot. It is also disappointing that the toilet remains closed.
We always enjoyed our outing to Backwater Dam and we recommended it to visitors to the area as well as to others.
We are now “unlikely to go there in its present state and regret the loss of this amenity. I too would be happy to hear from Scottish Water.
Stewart Fairweather.3 Applehill View,Wellbank.
Jim was still at school
Sir,Many thanks to Jim Leishman for remembering me in “Off the Leish” “(August 24).
My memory is fading, as hinted to in my first letter, because after researching the two games between Dunfermline and Tottenham in 1970 I discovered I did play against Martin Chivers in London and he did score a hat-trick but fortunately I did not play against him at Dunfermline.
That unenviable task fell to the late John Cushley. However ,it would appear that Jim”s memory is no better than yours truly because he did not play in either of the matches and it wasn”t the case he was not selected I think he was maybe still at school.
No doubt he will “remember upon reading this.
David McNicoll.2 Braehead Drive,Carnoustie.
Pilate legend interesting
Sir,I would ask Gordon Stuart “(August 25) not to dismiss out of hand any alleged connection between Scotland and Pontius Pilate.
Rome may not have reached Fortingall (what about Mons Graupius?) but Fortingall may have reached Rome.
It is possible that young Picts travelled south, crossed the channel into Gaul, and enlisted into the Roman Army, a meritocracy if ever there was one.
If noted as a good soldier, a man could expect steady promotion and reach the rank appropriate to a provincial governor, and even higher.
At least one became Emperor, learning Latin on the way Quid est Veritas? a most searching question for its day.
A. T. Geddie.68 Carleton Avenue.Glenrothes,Fife.
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