Sir, I wonder if anyone from the “No” campaign can enlighten me on the following.
After gaining independence, not one of the former Crown colonies from Canada and Australia to the most minute island states has applied for a renewal of London rule.
Nor can I recollect questions being asked about their ability to survive economically or doubts being cast on their future defence policies.
The countries that emerged from the dissolution of the USSR, including the Baltic states, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ukraine have shown no inclination to re-embrace rule from Moscow.
They seem very happy to be independent and Ukraine is an interesting case, as Russia was able to decommission a much larger naval installation than Faslane, in a matter of months, without fatuous claims that it should remain Russian territory.
Is Scotland a very special case that tenuous questions and vacuous threats are posed about the very idea of her independence?
Or is it all based on the words of the Speaker in Westminster, in 1707, who said: “We have catched Scotland, let us clasp her tight!”
Faslane, and the oil, to be clasped tightest?
Joseph G. Miller. 44 Gardeners Street, Dunfermline.
Speed cameras will miss point
Sir, So, the Scottish Government thinks the answer to reducing accidents between Perth and Inverness is to put in place average speed cameras from Dunblane (Saturday’s Courier).
The road from Dunblane to Perth is already dualled. Does this mean when they dual the remainder of the A9, the cameras will remain? This would appear to be a means of making money out of the motorist rather than addressing a road safety matter.
The main problem is on the single-carriageway stretches, where frustration sets in and a driver stuck behind a slower-moving vehicle overtakes when it is unsafe to do so. I don’t think average speed cameras will prevent this. Speed does not cause the accidents it is how, when and where the speed is used which does.
Would the £2.5 million not be better spent on making areas for slower-moving vehicles to move over to let vehicles pass? Of course, this would not produce any revenue for the Treasury.
Jackson Farnsworth. Kellas, Angus.
From one lane to two lanes …
Sir, Regarding the A9 and the number of fatal accidents, while average speed cameras may be a good idea, the problem is the changes from single to dual carriageway.
The installation of these cameras will take time and, in the interim, a better signage system should be devised to make road users aware of the type of carriageway they are on. The painting of arrows on the road, indicating single or dual carriageway, would be beneficial until the long-overdue dualling of the entire A9 is complete.
Jim Balneaves. 4 Tayside Place, Glencarse, Perth.
… and then into Treasury coffers
Sir, Why can the authorities not address the real menace on the A9 careless, inconsiderate drivers rather than speed? Drivers are regularly seen overtaking, not at speed, but in circumstances that show utter disregard for other road users.
Until the courts start convicting careless drivers who have caused near misses, the problem and rising death toll will continue.
Careless or dangerous driving can be caught on camera or by covert police vehicles. Why won’t authorities address the true cause of accidents, instead of trying to be seen to do something? Oh, I forgot, cameras are a guaranteed source of income.
Bob Beveridge. Old Town House, Falkland.
What is all the fuss about?
Sir, Mr Verden-Anderson wonders how many ladies-only clubs would welcome male members (Friday’s Courier). I belong to such a club, which changed its name and constitution to admit male members.
Did men rush to join? Two or three years on, our male membership is zero. Men are, and always have been, welcome to attend talks, social functions and events.
Most clubs welcome guests of the opposite sex. I am told the R&A is throwing open its doors to the players in the Ricoh Women’s British Open, to be played at St Andrews this week, and changing rooms etc will be transformed. What more can one want and what is all the fuss about?
Elizabeth Picton. 76 Hepburn Gardens, St Andrews.
Councillors, take note
Sir, We went out of our way, as did other people, to attend a meeting in Charleston Community Centre, Dundee, only to find it was cancelled.
Apparently, Councillor Alan Ross’s flight was delayed. We understand these things happen but surely he could have arranged for one of his colleagues to take the meeting, even just to take notes from the people who had bothered to attend and pass them on to him.
T. Culross. 47 Sutherland Crescent, Dundee.