Sir, – A lot of people, not just the loyal employees, have cause to be angry at the debacle of Tullis Russell going into administration (May 1).
Just why the company’s problems were kept quiet for so long remains one of the mysteries of Fife’s industrial history.
However that may be, there can be no possible excuse for informing workers of redundancy by telephone after they had just finished a night shift.
It makes a mockery of the company’s much advertised claims to employee ownership.
Those who have supported the variety of such schemes have been given a very sudden reality check.
Yet there are more questions to be asked about recent developments at the plant.
For some years, the company had argued that a biomass engineering facility at its Markinch venture was essential for its viability.
This was because environmental regulations were becoming ever more strict.
The Scottish Government was finally persuaded to commit £8 million to the project.
Only recently, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing lauded the project at a visit to the plant.
Just how much did the Scottish Government, the local trade unions and Fife Council know about the difficulties the company was facing?
Like nearly everyone, I earnestly hope that a buyer for Tullis Russell can be found.
Some serious questions still need to be asked about why this situation was allowed to arise.
Those who seem to have ignored the problem need to make amends by real action now.
Bob Taylor. 24 Shiel Court, Glenrothes.
Danger of lynxin countryside
Sir, – Once again we hear of a proposal to reintroduce lynx into the British countryside.
One of those areas being considered is Aberdeenshire as well as parts of England.
Supporters believe these big cats will enhance our countryside and help manage our red deer population.
Farmers are understandably fearful for the safety of their cattle and sheep.
I love wildlife but am alarmed at the prospect of reintroducing a species that has not roamed in Scotland for 1000 years.
We have already seen the damage done to trees and drainage courses by rogues beavers in east Perthshire and we should be careful not to make the same mistakes with big cats.
The population of Scotland was a fraction of what it is today when lynx last lived here.
Today, much more of our land is under cultivation and we use the countryside for leisure pursuits.
We have seen the damage marauding sea eagles, brought in from Norway, have done by slaughtering other wildlife and we can expect worse when these big cats are set free to savage farm animals at will.
Farmers are having a hard enough time without lumbering them with another large predator.
I also fear what effect these lynx would have on our own native wildcats.
I wonder if there would be room for both these species to co-exist and what are the chances that the lynx may carry diseases that could harm the wildcat, thus causing its demise.
We have this problem with the red and grey squirrels.
Robert Anderson, Kirkton, Arbroath.
Time for voting system overhaul
Sir, – If the poll predictions are correct, the SNP could end up with a clean sweep of all the seats being contested in Scotland at this election.
However much jubilation this may cause some, this scenario is grotesque and an affront to democracy.
It will finally, I hope, lead to the consigning to history of the discredited and grossly unfair voting system that is first-past-the-post.
Nick Clegg, after joining the Coalition, made what can only kindly be described as a tactical error when he pushed for an early vote on changing the voting system for elections at Westminster.
Had he shown any political acumen he would have insisted on a programme of education on alternate voting systems first.
This would have given an alternative voting system a fighting chance of carrying a majority at Westminster before the end of this current parliament.
In a true democracy, all shades of political opinion however much you may personally disagree with them have a right to be heard.
Joseph A Peterson. 32 Kilrymont Road, St Andrews.
A nation starts to wake up
Sir,- Three letters in your issue last Wednesday encapsulated why the Scottish population has finally, at least from the evidence of events since the referendum, awoken to the fact that there is no reason why Scotland should not be an independent country.
Despite the forthcoming election being for the Westminster Parliament, clearly Yes voters see it as an opportunity to at least let Westminster hear Scotland’s voice.
Unionists are falling over one another regarding “the tail wagging the dog” as your correspondent put it.
But we never heard them comment on the built-in 10 to one anti- democratic detriment to Scotland over centuries.
In the same issue, we have Jenny Hjul’s usual diatribe against the “Nats” as she repeatedly disparagingly refers to the 45% of the population who voted for independence.
It is interesting that she has yet to comment on your report of March 27 on the indepth findings of academic research in the aftermath of the referendum.
The most crucial fact found was that had only Scottish born voters participated, then there would have been a 53% vote in favour of independence.
Other findings determined a substantial body of No voters did so through a lack of trust in Alex Salmond, a loss of nerve, warnings from the banks and the general scaremongering that epitomised the campaign.
Hugh Cameron. 33a Thomas Street, Carnoustie.
Managing expectations
Sir, – The First Minister claims that this election is not about another referendum and I believe her.
However, a significant number of the thousands of new SNP members do think it is and are eager to pick up where they left off on September 18, much sooner rather than later.
They’ll be sorely disappointed if they are told that there won’t be another vote on the subject for several years. How, I wonder, can Ms Sturgeon possibly rein in their expectations?
Jane Ann Liston. 5 Whitehill Terrace, Largo Road. St Andrews
The power to effect change
Sir, – I write with reference to Bob Duncan’sletter, Solve local problems first (April 27).
Mr Duncan could have his wish come true and get rid of the politicians responsible for closing police stations and courts and cutting the numbers of bobbies on the beat. He could ensure the potholes are filled and once again make our education system and NHS the envy of the world.
He needs to vote against the prospect of any SNP candidate being in a position to hold any responsibility for governance, whether at a local, Scottish or indeed, national level.
Every one of the overpaid executives he cites as overseeing the chaos is paid by the ScottishGovernment.
Mrs Joan Chalmers. 13 Bayfield Gardens, Broughty Ferry.
Feathering their own nests
Sir, – This election is no more than a desperate fight for individual survival among politicians. The electorate are what they have always been, the punters who choose those members of the political class who will keep their jobs and those who will be pensioned off but with another go at the game in five years’ time.
Thus the meaningless bribes, while matters of the economy, immigration, energy and defence are ignored.
Elections are all about the futures of those who need to be elected and nothing at all about the future of our country.
Malcolm Parkin, 15 Gamekeepers Road, Kinnesswood, Kinross.
Major fiscal blunder by SNP
Sir, – The Scottish police and fire services are facing a cash crisis (April 29).
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) did not inherit the VAT exemption enjoyed by regional forces when they merged in 2013.
There is a similarproblem with Police Scotland.
One must ask how competent the SNP Government was when they rushed through one fire service and one police force since this created a VAT liability of between £10 million and £20m a year.
This money has been lost to Scotland’s police and fire services.
The SNP Government have been vocal in attacking this decision, blaming everyone other than themselves.
They were warned.
A HMRC spokesman said: “In 2012, the Scottish Government made Scotland’s police and fire services national bodies.
“The UK Government advised at that time that this change would take them out of the scope of the VAT refunds.”
Still want to trust the SNP with the Scottish economy?
Clark Cross. 138 Springfield Road, Linlithgow.
Madras in last chance saloon
Sir, – I have been impressed by the quality of debate about the future of Madras College, St Andrews.
Passions are running high on both sides but at least the level of engagement shows a community willing to become involved in democracy.
But I do fear that the children in north-east Fife will be the ultimate losers.
The centralising of our police and fire services in Scotland is an indication of the clear direction of travel of this SNP Government.
How long before they centralise education to save money for their pet projects?
If a future SNP government does run education from Edinburgh it could cut a raft of officials across the 32 local authorities.
They would then take a national view of school sites.
Children in the Taybridgehead area would be bussed to school in Dundee, St Andrews pupils would be sent to Waid or elsewhere and the SNP Government would warm their hands over the cash saved by not building a new school that St Andrews did not want.
Ask any police officer or firefighter if they think such a scenario is possible.
Bob Ferguson. North Muirton, Perth.