Sir, I read with interest the letter from Mark Sharp (October 3), regarding the future of RAF Leuchars, and the actions Roderick Campbell MSP has taken to ensure the airbase is used to its maximum potential, following the removal of the RAF by the Lib Dem/Tory Government.
Mr Sharp’s comments, that the SNP’s efforts to save RAF Leuchars were “pitiful”, are somewhat disingenuous, particularly if we compare them to the efforts of the Lib Dems.
Whilst I commend Sir Menzies Campbell for his vociferous defence of the airbase, his party cronies were far less sympathetic and have trampled over North-East Fife’s history, economy and communities. When they are helping to prop up a Tory Government, however, we should not be surprised.
As for giving up the fight for independence, I am uncertain why this conclusion has been drawn. It has already been publicly stated, by the First Minister, that Scotland will use the defence resources it has available to it, following independence.
The current set-up, as orchestrated by the UK Government, is such that Leuchars will no longer be an airbase. With more cuts to army personnel numbers expected soon, I for one am sceptical about the number of troops allegedly moving into Leuchars in 2015. Moreover, the future of Leuchars is currently with the MoD without independence, we will forever be reliant on Westminster making such horrendous decisions as removing the RAF from Leuchars.
Mr Sharp also speaks of “jumping on the bandwagon” for demanding a feasibility study for a commercial airfield, but then proceeds to do the very same himself! Perhaps he should encourage Fife Council, which has the responsibility in this area, to conduct the feasibility study Mr Campbell has requested.
Clearly Mr Sharp doesn’t agree that the aerial resources at Leuchars should be left to rot and simply gather moss, instead of being put to good, commercial use. On the day when it was announced that flights from Dundee to London have been cut by a third, is it not a good idea to have a small regional airport in Fife which could, at the very least, make up this shortfall?
Would it not, also, be better for an immediate feasibility study to be carried out by Fife Council, regarding this?
Michael F Troon. 15 Crawford Avenue, Gauldry.
Road safety concerns
Sir, Our main concern with the location of a new Madras school at the Pipeland site is public safety, road safety and traffic congestion.
Consideration should be given to the current amount of traffic with two major super- markets, a very busy community hospital, police, fire and ambulance emergency services, two very busy car sales and garages and the main post office depot all converging onto Largo Road (A915). This is also a main arterial route to a large caravan and camp site and other major towns in Fife.
There are also planning applications already ongoing for a hotel and another supermarket on this route.
The 14 buses which transport pupils to and from school in St Andrews every day, will have to pass through a very narrow A915 main road in central St Andrews, especially Bridge Street and City Road and a busy bus station. Major traffic congestion will be inevitable.
If this plan goes ahead we feel that a massive restructuring of the roadway and possibly a bridge walkover on the A915 at Morrisons supermarket will be needed to safeguard pupils heading there and back at lunch times.
Our concerns are for the safety of the 1400 pupils, local pedestrians, cyclists and other road users (students, tourists).
Bill Sangster. Chairman, North East Fife Community Safety Panel
Our history demands it
Sir, I am always amused by the intemperate fulminations of Mr McMillan and I had to laugh out loud when he described me as an extremist in Friday’s edition.
I am proud of the unstoppable progress we have made towards a mature independence over the years; always peacefully, always democratically.
The inspiration has never come from ranters or demagogues but from a strong grass roots movement.
We will be a proper nation again some day; our history and geography insist upon it.
Iain Haxton. Macbeth Cottage, Birnam, Dunkeld.
Some pointers for the PM
Sir, Unsurprisingly, David Cameron has ducked a debate with Alex Salmond.
Mr Salmond would need only ask: “What additional powers will you provide for Holyrood, in the event of a “no” vote’?”, for the Prime Minister to develop incurable lockjaw!
However, here are a few suggestions that might make the undecided electorate flock to his banner:
1) Removal of Trident from the Clyde within six months;
2) All oil revenues to be shared on a geographical basis;
3) Full fiscal autonomy for Scotland.
Nevertheless, even with those “concessions” written in the blood of his 23 millionaire cabinet ministers, there might still be many, like me, reluctant to kiss his “Ragman’s Roll” and come away with nothing but chapped lips, empty pockets and more broken promises.
Joseph G Miller. 44 Gardeners Street, Dunfermline.
Beech hedge danger
Sir, I drive past the beech hedge at Meikleour several times each week. It was planted in 1745 and is now some 150 feet high and 530 metres long and officially recognised in the Guinness Book of Records as the highest hedge in the world.
Just now the autumn colours show it off at its very best, however, it is sad that the trimming of the side branches which was undertaken about every 10 years is now some three or four years overdue.
No doubt the owners of this magnificent hedge will find the cost of this work very high, but soon the overgrown side branches will make the trees lopsided and dangerous, and any regrowth will take more and more time to recover.
I wonder if the owners of the hedge could approach bodies like Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust, The Tree Council, and The Gannochy Trust for some assistance towards the cost of the work ?
MK Cassels. Rosemount, Blairgowrie.
This apocalyptic gloom is absurd
Sir, No-one disputes Robert Smith’s claim that climate change is a fact what scientists like me question is the hypothesis that catastrophic, man-made global warming is a “fact”.
Observations contradict virtually every claim made by the IPCC and there clearly is no “warming” at present and there has not been any for the past 15 years.
Al Gore makes a big deal about CO2 levels being above 400 parts per million but the hottest summers last century (1930, 34, 36, 54, 80) all occurred below 350 PPM.
There is a proto-religious feel to the theory of global warming with its overtones of human guilt and redemption which attracts the west’s disparate environmental groups.
But this apocalyptic gloom is absurd because history shows that, without exception, all past periods of warming were accompanied by a quantum leap in human progress.
Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
Help police to do their job
Sir, Two men had their appeal against a conviction for supplying drugs rejected, The Courier, October 3. They had maintained the police searched their car without “reasonable grounds to suspect” they were in possession of a controlled drug. What a waste of public money allowing such an appeal!
The police are constantly hampered in their work these days by nit-picking legislation “protecting the rights of the individual”. Fingerprints, blood and traces of DNA are frequently available at crime or fatal accident scenes or at locations where bodies have been found and police are hindered in their investigations because their files are incomplete.
Human rights protesters are vociferous in their opposition to any attempt to make obligatory the fingerprinting, photographing and blood and DNA testing of every UK citizen, claiming that such compulsion would be a breach of our rights. It is far more of a breach of our rights that a relative’s body remains unidentified or criminals stay at large to commit more crimes because police records do not contain the information necessary to solve the cases.
What have the law-abiding to fear? It would not bother me in the least to have to make any of my details available to the police. I have nothing to hide. Only criminals would be disadvantaged by such proposed measures and would that not be a good thing? We should stop hog-tying the police and help them to do their job efficiently.
George K McMillan. 5 Mount Tabor Avenue, Perth.
Means testing for pension?
Sir, I see from The Courier, October 2, that an independent Scotland would adopt a Danish-style welfare system.
It seems that the Danish pension system is based on a universal flat rate and is partly means tested.
Does this mean that an independent Scotland will scrap our present state pension in favour of some Danish system whereby the old age pension will be means tested?
Yes or no?
S Brett. 18 Craigmill Gardens, Carnoustie.
Well, does the bikini fit?
Sir, I read with interest on page two of The Courier (October 7) that Mr Salmond has lost two stones after following a “bikini diet”. The question must be does it fit him?
Ed Thomson. 3 Camphill. Broughty Ferry Dundee.