Sir, In response to Andrew Ogilvy-Wedderburn’s letter (May 15), the beavers on Tayside were not deliberately released into the wild, but are largely the descendants of animals that managed to escape from private collections.
Extensive information has been obtained from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) under Freedom of Information covering the years 2006 – 2011. There is virtually no mention of deliberate release, either from them or the other public agencies.
In the one instance where a Scottish Government official suggested this might be happening, because of a “feeling he had”, and that subsequently, this was the “line to take”, SNH replied there was no evidence for this. Tayside Police, who originally suspected deliberate release, subsequently changed their minds. Allowing beavers to escape from such collections is every bit as much an offence as deliberately releasing them, but we should be wary of making judgment too quickly.
The owners of private collections will tell you how easy it was to source these animals, and how few checks were made both at the time and then subsequently. There are still no real checks today. There are beavers in the wild on Tayside now primarily because of a failure of regulation.
At the official re-introduction site in Argyll, the beavers there were trying to disperse within days of release and a number are unaccounted for. There is evidence that at least one of these was very much alive well beyond the trial area, and there will probably be others as well. These beavers have also been allowed to escape illegally into the wild from the trial area.
They are, in effect, no different from the Tayside beavers in this respect, so there is no point in the authorities or anyone else throwing mud at Tayside.
The bottom line is we have underestimated these animals. If people really didn’t want them in the wild in Scotland, then they should have been asking questions sooner.
Victor Clements. Native Woodland Advice, Mamie’s Cottage, Taybridge Drive, Aberfeldy.
There’s a lot of negotiating still to be done
Sir, As I understand it, before there will be an “in – out” referendum on EU membership there will be negotiations and it will be on that outcome we will make a choice.
If on September 18 2014 Scotland votes to become an independent country, there will, equally, be negotiations on EU membership.
Shortly after that, we will also elect a government for Scotland. It may well be that the parties vying to form that government may well decide to offer a referendum on whether to accept the negotiated EU membership offered to Scotland.
Either way, we need to wait the outcome of the independence referendum to know what the result of whichever negotiations are relevant to Scotland.
Will the government of an independent Scotland offer a referendum on EU membership? Or will we require to see a full-blown Tory government at Westminster to have a UK vote on EU membership?
It would all seem to depend on future outcomes.
Brian Rattray. 124/2 Gylemuir Road, Corstorphine, Edinburgh.
Promises are conveniently forgotten
Sir, The Conservative rebellion over the holding of a referendum on EU membership, despite the publishing of a draft bill, is symptomatic of the UKIP tail wagging the Tory dog.
The Tory argument for not holding a referendum now, but waiting until 2017 after the next General Election, is opposition from Coalition partners, the Lib Dems.
Curiously the Lib Dems seem to have completely escaped under the radar on this issue as in the run-up to the 2010 General Election they urged a “real referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU”.
As with their pledge to resist an increase in tuition fees this is yet another Lib Dem promise which has gone to the wall and the Tories seem reluctant to highlight.
Alex Orr. Flat 2, 77 Leamington Terrace, Edinburgh.
Teachers’ lack of empathy with parents
Sir, Pension reform is a matter for Westminster but militant teacher unions north of the border threaten to strike unless Holyrood throws more taxpayer money into the pot.
Sadly a teacher’s index-linked, final salary pension is paid out of general taxation and increased longevity has put the future cost of such schemes into the stratosphere.
Years ago, their pensions reflected best practice in the giant corporations and made up for pay some 10% below the private sector, reflecting teachers’ shorter working hours.
Today they earn 15% above the private sector but their gold-plated pensions are still in place despite the fact that private sector pensions were wrecked under New Labour.
Finally a quirk in the new state pension means teachers but not the private sector will continue to enjoy an enhanced occupational pension on top of the higher payment.
It is a measure of their lack of empathy with parents whose jobs are so much less secure that teachers have the gall to threaten strikes to preserve such excessive benefits.
Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
Wakened a “sleeping giant”
Sir, There has never been a better time to consider the future for independence in the United Kingdom. The independence of Britain from the European Union, of course.
UKIP may not be a serious political proposition but they have wakened a sleeping giant in the form of those of us who do not wish to be dictated to by Europe, or anyone else.
It would appear that those who run Europe will stop at nothing to save the Euro, even abandon democracy for some time to come in order to achieve its survival. Unfortunately, during this time several countries will be destroyed, millions made unemployed, and there will be misery for the politically innocent, as seen from the Mediterranean experience.
There may be a case to remain as a trading partner with Europe which will mean having to comply with their regulations for the export of goods. This would not deter trade with the rest of the world, but would free us from any of the legislative, judicial, or indeed administrative constraints of the partnership.
Hopefully, more and more of the electorate and indeed members of Parliament will stand up and be counted for the independence of Great Britain.
Alan Bell. Roods, Kirriemuir.
Banking on an appeal?
Sir, Banks Development Director Colin Anderson is on a charm offensive to: “reaffirm to locals that the development will take into account their opinions and reviews, with the ultimate aim of creating a development which is as acceptable to as many people as possible.”
Will Banks promise to withdraw its application if a majority of local people just don’t want any windfarm development, let alone eight 135m turbines, in the Carse of Gowrie?
If our elected representatives at Perth & Kinross Council refuse the application, will Mr Anderson undertake to go back to Durham and find a community that does find his wind farms acceptable?
Or is he, like other predatory windfarm developers, already banking on a successful appeal to the Scottish Government?
Linda Holt. Scotland Against Spin, Dreel House, Pittenweem.
Regular checks at an earlier age
Sir, With regard to the piece in Wednesday’s Courier about drivers having to take a test on reaching 66, I wouldn’t agree with this as there are plenty of them who are good drivers irrespective of their age.
Having spent more than 30 years of my working life driving HGVs and PCVs I would say that all drivers should at sometime have to take a refresher course, maybe around the ages of 40 to 50.
When I was driving buses we would be taken off duty without any notice and taken for a two-hour test by a driving instructor to make sure our driving was up to scratch. We would also be tested on the Highway Code.
Also, all HGV/PCV drivers on reaching the age of 45 have to have a medical, including an eye test, to renew their licence. This happens every five years until they retire. I think that someone passing their test at 17 then never having any kind of refresher until they are 70 is far too long. They can develop bad habits and there are also possibly changes in the law or to the Highway Code to contend with too.
There are many other things that distract drivers nowadays, too, like mobile phones, tablets etc and although it is illegal to use these things too many people ignore this. The volume of traffic on our roads these days requires drivers to be alert to what is happening around them at all times.
Also, too many people nowadays are in too much of a hurry and people no longer seem to be prepared to show other drivers any courtesy at all now.
Arthur Bruce. 33 Lumsden Crescent, Almondbank, Perth.
Time to cater for single guests
Sir, Do any other readers get angry at the way hotel “special deals” are confined to “two people sharing” conditions? Time and again these special deals appear in the media or online for great deals unfortunately none is available to the single traveller who may want to get away for a short break on his or her own.
Hotels etc, are constantly complaining they are not getting the bookings these days and are perhaps forced to close their doors through lack of business. It is no wonder, if they are not treating single bookings the same as a double. Surely the cost per person for one occupant is better than no customers at all?
It is time we in Britain stopped this practice and treated every booking in the same way and not discriminate against the single guest. We don’t all want to share a room with a non-family member.
F M McMillan. 6 Ethiebeaton Terrace Monifieth.