Sir, – I suppose that I could now be considered a Dundonian as I have lived, worked and retired in the city over the last 49 years.
I could not agree more with RHL Mulheron and Laurie Richards regarding planners’ complete contempt for the historical environment with which they were gifted.
I was fortunate, as a student, to be able to wander around the glorious centre of this city and wonder at this trip back in time.
I know there was a lot of filth and squalor behind some of the old facades but nothing that a little care and attention could not have put right over time. When the then Lord Provost was allowed to release his barbarian demolition horde, one just stood in horror as century upon century of human history was brushed aside.
I could not believe it as I realised that Monk’s Land was coming down too. A little ode appeared in the students’ charities magazine in, I think 1965, which ended with the lines: “Dundee, where nothing blooms but Trojan plants.”
What is currently so distressing is that magnificent but decaying examples, usually of our industrial heritage and most having been the subject of planning applications over recent years, are standing decaying to a point of no return.
The William Halley Mill on the Arbroath Road, one of the most classically perfect industrial buildings in the city, was included in an imaginative housing plan over a year ago. Builders appeared and started a little of the preliminary work and then disappeared.
Lower Dens Works was part of a plan for the development of a new hotel several years ago. Now not a piece of glass is left in the building and it is tragic when you see it standing opposite the superbly developed “twin” at the bottom of Princes Street, now serving as a beautiful block of flats.
The only evidence of the council fulfilling its duty of care to its listed heritage is the compulsory purchase order imposed on a decaying town house at the top of Roseangle, and there is little sign of a sense of urgency there. And now look at the only partly occupied Wellgate Centre and cast your mind back to the humming exuberance to be experienced in a walk down the old Wellgate.
Dundee could have been, if not the “Athens of the North” (position already taken), then certainly the “York of the North”, except for our oft-repeated inability to elect a council and employ a planning department with vision.
Dr Steve Woodward. 5 Ballumbie View, Dundee.
Irritated by intolerance
Sir, – I suspect I’m not the only reader irritated by the ranting of Robert Canning.
If he is seeking converts to his religion of intolerance, he can be assured it is having the opposite effect.
My advice to Mr Canning; stop telling everyone who disagrees with you they are wrong, cease telling us what we are allowed to believe, or, otherwise, mind your own business.
Iain Cathro. 31 Ferndale Drive, Broughty Ferry.
Record refutes secular stance
Sir, – Self-styled secularist Robert Canning continues to claim that his small society is promoting secularism rather than atheist views but the record shows differently.
In the past few years I have seen him and his few colleagues seek the removal of religious observance from state schools, the ending of Catholic schools, the removal of references to God in the Scout oath, the ending of bishops in the House of Lords, the removal of church representatives from education committees, the removing of hospital chaplains, the stopping of churches’ major involvement in Remembrance Day parades and so on.
He still fails to condemn the intolerant views of his fellow office bearer who wants to see churches sidelined. I think we know where you stand on tolerating Christianity Mr Canning.
Gus Logan. 2 York Road, North Berwick.
Bin collection dates dilemma
Sir, – I understand that Angus Council has stopped delivering bin collection calendar cards to every home.
This was done last year and made sure everyone knew when to put out their bins.
Handing out cards from local Access Offices would have been less effective.
I can understand councils wanting to save money by getting as many residents aspossible to find out about their services online, but not everyone has online access.
Insisting on downloading information will exclude a significant number of people and that will make bin collection harder for the collectors as well as for households.
I would ask Angus Council to think again.
Clive R Sneddon. Angus and Mearns Liberal Democrats, 20 Hepburn Gardens, St Andrews.
The real risk to lowest paid?
Sir, – The letter from AA Bullions (October 12) caused me to choke on the biscuit I was eating at the time.
He said of the Scottish referendum that “those most at risk from independence will be those on benefits and lower paid workers”.
Was he joking? Everyone knows that these are the very people who are enduring savage attacks from the current UK Tory Government while the wealthy get tax cuts.
Andrew Collins. Ladyburn House, Skinners Steps, Cupar.
Stand against hare massacre
Sir, – Jim Crumley’s column on the continued massacre of the mountain hares by “sporting” estates made distressing reading.
I would appeal to anyone who felt as I did to contact our Scottish Wildlife Trust and MSPs.
Only a recognition by a huge Scottish majority, of the true nature of these estates and their depredations on our wildlife will lead eventually to their tight control by the Scottish Government.
Who but a psychopath could look on the mass deaths and wounding of these wonderful creatures with satisfaction?
Hilary Lacaille. Keepers Cottage, Blackcraig, Ballintuim.
Arrogance from Jenny is rich
Sir, – It seems we are a’ oot o’ step but oor Jenny.
It is no surprise that arch-unionist Jenny Hjul has not a good word for the SNP Government which is overwhelmingly supported by the Scottish people (October 14).
This arrogant attitude is pretty rich when she then goes on to detect “a whiff of contempt for the voter” in the SNP.
As the statistics highlighting the poverty and attainment gaps still shaming Scotland within the union get worse, the claim that we are better together looks more and more grotesque.
David Roche. Hill House, Coupar Angus.
SNP, look at UK picture on EU
Sir, – I refer to John Swinney’s remarks reported on October 14.
He says we need to have a really strong, positive message as to why Scotland should remain within the EU.
Can we all now see some properly researched reporting from the SNP as to the pros and cons of the UK, as well as Scotland, staying in the EU?
The SNP should be looking at the UK picture and not only the picture in Scotland, otherwise it has no credibility as an opposition party at Westminster.
On the strength of past SNP economic and political propaganda designed for party and not country, I am pessimistic about ever getting a balanced view from the SNP on the many facets of UK membership, not all of which are beneficial.
Strange, is it not, that a party which is opposed to the UK union is now deciding, apparently, that Scotland should remain part of an even greater union where there is no commonality of language and culture and in which our legislation can be overturned by various bodies in Strasbourg and Brussels
Derek Farmer. Knightsward Farm, Anstruther.