Sir, Like most citizens of Crieff, I am pleased that the Crieff Community Trust is making strenuous efforts to save the rapidly-deteriorating Drummond Arms in the centre of the town.
The Community Right To Buy legislation is a useful tool that has been added to the statute books and has already proved successful, particularly with the crofting communities and, of course, nearby Cultybraggan.
The practicality of developing the Drummond for community purposes remains, as yet, to be determined.
Crieff recently hit the headlines when it emerged that air pollution due to traffic in the centre of the town had reached crisis point and we understand that the local authority has now designated the area an Air Quality Management Area. Surely the time is nigh to act, without further prevarication.
History is not kind to the heritage of Strathearn. We have lost, in the last hundred or so years, great buildings such as Abercairney,
Ferntower and Inchbrakie. We have neglected the protection and publicising of one of Scotland’s great abbeys, Inchaffray, at Madderty. We have on our doorstep the oldest Roman frontier in the world, namely the Gask Ridge. We have unearthed a fascinating Neolithic past in the excavation of the cursus on the site of the Strathearn Campus. Both of these have seen tremendous archaeological investigation by dedicated teams.
As an area very much dependent on tourism, we must ensure that a positive approach is adopted to saving what we can and developing the future.
Colin Mayall. 5a East High Street, Crieff.
PM’s history and future of Scotland
Sir, Congratulations to David Cameron on his passionate speech promoting the continuation of the union. He quite rightly leaves the discussions about post-independence matters to the ministers and public officials who are expected to agree appropriate arrangements.
Finding time to have talks (for what purpose?) with a dissident party leader in the Scottish Parliamentcannot possibly be anywhere near the top of his agenda.
Mr Cameron’s Scottish credentials are impressive. Genealogical researchcarried out last year shows he is descended from a Jacobite laird, some of whose Camerons aided the escape of Charles Edward, (who himself had no plans to break up the union). No need to remind David Cameron about history.
There is much nitty-gritty still to be revealed. AlexSalmond should be concentrating on that; for example, how many local authorities will there be after independence? The EU? Agriculture?
A T Geddie. 68 Carleton Avenue, Glenrothes.
Time to raise level of debate
Sir, I welcome theBritish Scot PM DavidWilliam Donald Cameron into the independence debate.
It is unsettling to see the braying mob attitude surface when senior politicians start name calling, as outbursts such as ‘coward’, ‘nae guts’, ‘feartie’ are voiced. The language of the playground or football terrace has no place in an already emotional debate which carries with it the most important decision in our nation’s 300-year-old history.
Mr Cameron’s articulate, eloquent, well mannered and passionate speech is just what we should expect from our leaders. I hope Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon can up their game and try to avoid the dumbed-down hysteria which often prevails inScottish politics.
Iain G Richmond. Guildy House, Kirkton of Monikie.
Business of independence
Sir, I refer to Mr Liney’s letter (Thursday’s Letters).
The publicity given to BAE’s intentions comes hard on the heels of the comments made by the head of BP, Bob Dudley, another major investor in Scottish jobs and infrastrucure, and someone who is an American with no vested interest in Scottish independence.
He ventured to say what other business leaders appear hesitant to say and that is that the uncertain future proposed by the SNP is a major disincentive to investment.
BAE Systems should be applauded for the fact that in the present, divisive climate fostered by the SNP, it is still prepared to put investment into the Clyde. We should also remember, however, that BAE builds military ships for the UK Government. If there is no longer a UK
Government as we know it, then there is a very good chance the current frigates order will be the last to be built on the Clyde. What then?
Derek Farmer. Knightsward Farm, Anstruther.
But BAE does not call shots
Sir, Since when did BAE Systems dictate wherewarships will be built? According to L. Liney, the spokesman for BAE Systems announced that warships will continue to be built on the Clyde even if the independence vote is yes. According to the MOD, no British warships have ever been built in a foreign country, which, effectively, Scotland will become.
He also stated there are no facilities existing capable of building warships in Britain apart from the Clyde. I suggest he looks at Portsmouth, Tyneside, Barrow etc. All of which are more than capable of building any type ofwarship required by the British Navy.
BAE Systems “are looking at the possibility” of constructing a purpose-built facility to build warships in Scotland. I ask: when? After the results of the referendum, I would say, is a safe bet!
Charles Henderson. 5 High Street, Auchtermuchty.
You can’t go home again
Sir, I am 80 years of age and, although I have never been a member of a political party, I have always considered it was my duty to vote at both local and national elections.
In the lead up to these elections, I have always tried to study the various policies of the different political parties so that I could, hopefully, feel satisfied that I had voted correctly. However, if this was not the situation, I hoped that this would be rectified at the next election.
I have been trying my best to follow the various debates regarding the independence vote and, although I have not made a decision yet regarding my vote, it does concern me that if the majority vote yes, there is, as far as I am aware, no means of returning to the status quo if, in time, the majority of voters decide they made a mistake voting yes.
Ian Thomson. Moor Road, Ceres.
Bridge site bid an opportunity
Sir, We are delighted to see proposals for a visitor centre at the Forth Bridge and, of course, give our full backing to the bid to establish it as an official Unesco World Heritage Site.
It is the only site chosen from an 11-strong shortlist across the UK and was considered the most likely to be accepted for an elite list of attractions, which already includes Egypt’s pyramids, the Taj Mahal in India and the Great Wall of China.
The Forth Bridge is an iconic symbol of technical creativity and engineering and next year will celebrate its 125th birthday, being constructed almost half a century before the Saltire Society was formed to act as a strong, independent champion for Scotland’s cultural heritage and creative ambitions.
As a symbol of Scotland’s industrial and cultural past, this was the first major structure in the UK to be built of steel and is a clear opportunity to boost Scotland’s heritage tourism industry.
Inscription as a world heritage site is an important accolade, so achieving this recognition will be tremendous news for Scotland and a fitting tribute to all the people who have contributed to the building, maintenance and restoration of the bridge, including the 98 men who died building it.
Jim Tough, executive director, The Saltire Society, 22 High Street, Edinburgh.
Help churches to help others
Sir, All of the media have been a little guilty of diluting the problem of increasing poverty that walks our streets.
Frequently, mention is made of the food banks that have been under considerable pressure of late. But these centres of help are only the official local resources. For every one mentioned in the press there are at least two managed by a church, the Salvation Army or some other charitable body. These are funded entirely by voluntary giving and, like all food banks, demand has increased tenfold in the last three years, putting enormous pressure on their helpers.
Often, they will offer counselling and friendship on top of the food, often much appreciated by their clients.
Churches of very different traditions work amicably together but such important sources of help are chiefly ignored in the press, which makes their task of getting funds and helpers even more difficult.
Robert Lightband. Clepington Court, Dundee.
Homes plan an act of madness
Sir, It beggars belief that planning is being sought to build eight houses on the old tennis courts in Errol Road in Invergowrie. I and manyothers of my age group are under the impression that the tennis courts were gifted to the village as a sports facility more than 100 years ago.
Errol Road is far too narrow for the traffic it is expected to service at present, never mind another access opening for eight houses with lock-ups.
Building these houses on a site opposite the opening for the very grand, new school building in Errol Road is surely madness. In an age when governments are advocating a greener life, and health and safety are paramount, surely all this in an area of a new, fairly large school which, incidentally, is expected to have a large intake from the new western gateway housing development approximately one mile from thevillage is insanity.
Norma Dow. 11 Dargie Road, Invergowrie.