Sir, May I echo the groundswell of opinion about the inefficiencies within the new centralised Police Scotland call centre.
I quote from a personal experience. When travelling along the dual carriageway between Glenrothes and Kinglassie several weeks ago, I had occasion to swerve around a double bed mattress lying on the road.
I duly attempted to contact Police Scotland on its 101 number to alert them to the danger and waited 20 odd minutes without success, finally being forced to use 999 to gain a response.
Admittedly, recent criticism has been heaped upon the chief constable who has displayed weakness in the past, but this set-up has been imposed upon him in the large part by his political masters, particularly in the form of the SNP’s former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill.
He was the main architect of this unworkable centralised system.
But a chief constable worth his salt should have had an awareness of the likely negative implications and fought against these changes.
All this happened in a drive towards saving money, with scant regard to the resultant service to the public, or indeed lack of it.
Add this to the closure of many of Scotland’s courts and we witness the deleterious effects that tinkering with long-established systems can have upon us.
Another chicken has come home to roost I feel.
David L Thomson. 24 Laurence Park, Kinglassie.
Reserve judgment
Sir, As regular readers of the letters page in this newspaper may have noticed, I am no fan of Police Scotland chief constable Sir Stephen House, in fact I have in the past complained about his malfeasance to the Court of Session, and am currently complaining about his personal actions to the police authority.
But, whatever else comes out of the investigation into the police’s failings in the tragic death of two people in a motor accident, I doubt very much that it will be attributable to the policy decisions or leadership of the chief constable.
That there have been failings in the actions of the police following a reported road traffic incident is glaringly obvious, but those who would opportunistically pin blame on to the head of Police Scotland would be akin to asking the head of the Health and Safety Executive to resign if a worker was killed in an accident on a Scots fishing boat off Iceland.
Let us get the facts before apportioning blame and calling for resignations.
Tom Minogue. 94 Victoria Terrace, Dunfermline.
Debate public service failings
Sir, – In view of the crisis with Police Scotland, the ongoing problems with the health service and the inadequate education system, surely Nicola Sturgeon should recall Holyrood without delay for a full debate.
RHL Mulheron. 28 Cowgate, Tayport.
Greek lessons to be learned
Sir, – It is very sad but predictable to behold the Greek tragedy unfolding before our eyes.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has gambled dangerously on his country’s budget, almost to bankruptcy.
He had relied on the goodwill of euro patners and yet is now facing even more stringent belt tightening to repay Greek debt, all to the hardship of his people.
As with a mortgage, money borrowed must be repaid or the property will be forefeited to the lender.
There are lessons here which all countries should learn: about fiscal management and mismanagement.
It is to be hoped that any impact on other countries will be minimal.
Beth Boylen. 40 Fintry Place, Broughty Ferry.
Smarten up our streets
Sir, – It beggars belief that people can come to Dundee and set up camp anywhere they choose and get 10 to 14 days to vacate the area.
What would happen if an individual parked, for example, in Baxter Park for a 10-day holiday?
I don’t think they would get 10 to 14 days to vacate the area.
We have a council in Dundee that turns a blind eye to anti-social behaviour.
In my area of the town, cycling on pavements is normal. There is no enforcement action yet we have plenty of young people looking for jobs who could be employed to patrol the streets.
The area around the Law is covered with dog mess yet rules are not enforced.
The path from Birkhill to Clatto Pool is covered with horse mess yet no local authority seems to take acion.
I want to see our councils making our pavements safe and clean and taking action against travelling people who stop where they want to.
Patrick McDonald. 60 Glenprosen Drive, Dundee.
Royal family bleeds us dry
Sir, – Once again, the royal publicity machine puts out meaningless statistics in order to justify the obscene amounts of money spent on our royal family.
They claim the yearly expense only comes to 56p for every person in Britian.
But this put another way is about £33 million and the royals are set for a 6.7% pay rise.
This figure does not include the cost of security for them and their properties, nor does it cover property maintenance.
The working class are being restricted to cost-of-living rises, welfare cuts and library closures.
I laugh when it is stated that during this time of austerity we are all in it together.
How gullible do they think we are?
Alister Rankin. 93 Whyterose Terrace, Methil.
In praise of Ninewells
Sir, – I am always very disappointed when I read negative comments and criticism of Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
In recent weeks I was admitted to Ninewells and, within five minutes of arrival, I was lying on a table having relevant treatment and then spent five days in the coronary care unit.
If I had been royalty I could not have received better treatment.
I had umpteen tests carried out and didn’t have to leave my bed.
The machinery was brought to me.
The efficiency, professionalism and care from both medics and nurses could not have been better.
As for those folk complaining about the food, I can only presume they eat gourmet meals at home.
Tina Wilson. The Gardens, Dunalastair, Kinloch Rannoch.
Sugar not villain in obesity crisis
Sir, It is a completely ridiculous idea that the Government is proposing to add a 20p tax to fizzy drinks in a bid to tackle obesity.
Since when has taxing things ever worked?
Just look at tobacco and alcohol.
And as for diet and sugar free versions, the artificial sweeteners cause well-documented health issues. At least the human body can process sugar.
If the Government is serious about tackling obesity in the United Kingdom, then why not do something to make fruit and vegetables cheaper?
Poor families, many reliant on the rapid rise of foodbanks in this country, cannot afford fruit and vegetables as they are too expensive but they can afford fizzy drinks.
As usual, this nanny state is going over the top. It is all about moderation.
I do tend to agree with Mary Poppins that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.
In moderation, there is nothing wrong with sweet, fizzy drinks.
Anything taken to excess can cause problems, so why does the Government want to tax fizzy drinks?
Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth.
In mourning for subsidies
Sir, – Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing chaired an energy summit with the green energy sector amid concerns about the impact of the UK Government’s
decision to end a subsidy scheme for inshore wind farms a year earlier than expected.
It was well attended by those who, for far too long, have been featherbedded.
There were claims of £3 billion of investment in Scotland being at risk and devastating job losses.
These would be foreign jobs.
Those involved in the wind industry (mostly foreign) are not investing because they are worried about the planet but because they can secure huge profit returns thanks to subsidies which are guaranteed for 25 years and are paid for by United Kingdom electricity consumers.
Dan Arnott. 1 St Brycedale Court, Kirkcaldy.
Rethink our maritime links
Sir, – If the Scottish Government is serious about its green credentials then it should consider publishing details on how we can use Scotland’s sea links to ease congestion on the roads.
The utter chaos caused by Operation Stack on the M20 in Kent and the disgraceful scenes of migrants trying to break into lorries in Calais illustrate the absurd bottleneck between Britain and the continent.
Thousands of lorries have been parked on the motorway and car drivers have had to fight their way through the chaos.
But before they get to Dover, they have to negotiate chocked motorways and A roads the length of Britain.
While we have a freight service from Rosyth, surely some of the money earmarked for roads improvements or some of the cash from windfarms, could be used to re-establish a car ferry and perhaps introduce a second freight ferry.
We could retain the Rosyth link and introduce a new one from Dundee or Aberdeen. That would demonstrate forward thinking by the Scottish Government.
Bob Ferguson. North Muirton, Perth