Sir, A recent article revealed that, on average, £1,600 is paid out every day by Scottish councils to drivers for pothole damage.
It should be noted that this is not the true cost of pothole damage, but only the amount of claims paid a fact emphasised in the statement by a COSLA spokesman that councils only pay when instructed to do so by their lawyers.
My experience, however, suggests that the decision to pay, or not, is in the hands of the insurance companies rather than councillors or their employees.
In the last three years I have twice damaged a wheel in potholes on Perthshire roads each wheel costing more than £400. In each case claim forms backed up by photographs of the potholes and garage receipts were sent to Perth and Kinross Council who forwarded them to their insurers, Zurich Municipal, who rejected both claims simply stating that their client could not be held responsible.
There was no negotiation process with the insurer and appeals for assistance to local councillors, the leader of the council and the chief executive were, in some cases, unanswered and in all cases of no help.
John W Milne. 15 Birch Avenue, Blairgowrie.
Disregard for future safety of our citizens
Sir, The failure of the Syrian peace talks will have grave consequences not only for the people of that country but others around the world, too.
Last week it was announced the first person from the UK had become a suicide bomber in Syria. According to the intelligence services there are between 100 and 500 British citizens fighting on behalf of fanatical Jihadists in Syria.
These people will come back to this country inculcated with a backward anti-Western ideology. They will be trained in the use of weapons and explosives.
The blame for the rise of these fanatics rests entirely with the governments of Saudi Arabia, Britain and America. In pursing regime change in Damascus the USUK governments have allowed the Saudis to arm fanatical al-Qaida linked fanatics.
The main consequence of arming Jihadis in Afghanistan in the 1980s was 9/11. In pursuing the same policy in Syria the USUK governments are showing a callous disregard for the future safety of their own citizens.
Alan Hinnrichs. 2 Gillespie Terrace, Dundee.
Destination unknown . . .
Sir, With only seven months to go before the referendum, the SNP has, unbelievably, not settled Scotland’s future currency position.
This is like setting off on a long journey to an unknown destination in an unreliable car, with a pint of petrol in the tank and hoping to find a filling station around the next corner but without any money to pay for the petrol.
Malcolm Parkin. 15 Gamekeepers Road, Kinnesswood, Kinross.
Game is well and truly “on”
Sir, It is official. An independent Scotland cannot use sterling as a currency.
The response of the Scottish Government was consistent with any other criticism in the form of abuse and an accusation of scaremongering. However, this time there were threats of reneging on debt payment, both answers guaranteed to damage Scotland’s international reputation, not to mention borrowing potential.
Could the First Minister of Scotland really believe the demand to break up the United Kingdom would not draw opposition from the rest of Britain?
It would be expected of any prime minister to defend the country he represents from breaking apart, to the detriment of the people, which is why he now rallies the country to unity.
The game would appear to be “on” and perhaps now we can expect, even demand, answers from the Nationalist camp.
Alan Bell. Roods, Kirriemuir.
Comp fun
Sir, I’ve been enjoying your latest daily competition in the paper: Guess how many pictures of Eve Muirhead will be printed in this issue?
John Johnston. Annfield Farm, Dunfermline.
Not the reason for storms
Sir, Professor Mat Collins, an internationally acknowledged expert on climate computer models and forecasts, has insisted that recent storms are not linked to global warming.
The “co-ordinating lead author” for the UN’s Panel on Climate Change explained that the storms were driven by the jet stream which has been “stuck further south than usual”.
He claimed: “There is no evidence global warming can cause the jet stream to get stuck in this way and if this is due to climate change, it is certainly outside our knowledge.”
Prof Collins was at odds with Met Office chief scientist Julia Slingo who in November made the hilarious prediction of “drier-than-normal conditions across the UK this winter”.
The real problem is not our unpredictable winter weather but that householders were betrayed by idiotic planning decisions and misconceived environmental policies.
Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.