Sir, Every time I drive into Dundee along Riverside Drive I am amazed at the state of the road.
There are potholes and rough surfaces along the length of the road from the airport all the way to the railway station.
Recently I have noticed cars zig-zagging along the road to avoid the potholes.
The impression it must give to visitors is pretty awful. I travel all over the world and I cannot recall a worse entrance to a city than this one into Dundee.
I wonder if any of the city councillors ever travel along this road?
It is a shame as so much is happening just along the road with millions of pounds being spent on all the waterfront changes and improvements.
Surely a little of the money could have been used to improve the approach roads into the city?
It’s not much better if you travel along Perth Road.
I always believe that first impressions count but I just hope that visitors to Dundee don’t judge this wonderful city on their first journey into it.
Derek Shaw. 17 The Logan, Liff, Dundee.
Angus Minstrels alive and well
Sir, A reference to the Angus Minstrels theatre group, made by Jack McKeown in last Monday’s Courier (August 12), has been brought to my attention.
This dedicated and much respected troupe, covering all age groups, has never been known as the “Arbroath Black and White Minstrels” and over the last 52 years of continuous performances beginning in 1961 and under their correct name, have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities, mostly children related.
Previously the Angus Black and White Minstrels, they were never forced by Angus Council as Mr McKeown suggested, to drop the word “black” from the company’s name, but more correctly were horrified that their selfless efforts were seen by some to be racist because of its inclusion. That was never their intention and never would have been.
The change of name at a time of widespread controversy far beyond Angus was entirely voluntary and to avoid any possible confrontation or implied offence.
This colourful and hugely enjoyable extravaganza of mainly nostalgic music for all tastes and ages was not, as Mr McKeown wrote, “wound up in 2010” but in fact continues to play to packed houses with this year’s 2013 spectacular to be on stage at Arbroath’s Webster Memorial Theatre from October 31 to November 9.
As ever, The Angus Minstrels welcome all, but book early or you may not get a seat!
Cllr Robert R Spink. Angus Council. The Grange, Inverkeilor.
Ironic for Big Tree Country
Sir, Perthshire’s fine reputation as a place of natural beauty draws visitors from all over the world. One slogan promoting this is, “Perthshire Big Tree Country”.
How ironic, then, especially in this, the Year of Natural Scotland, that Perth and Kinross Council officers are recommending that an ancient Scots pine, standing in magnificent isolation in the grounds of Perth Academy, be cut down to make way for a synthetic sports pitch. The tree is marked on the very first Ordnance Survey map, dated 1866, though it could be much older. It pre-dates the school, and is an educational resource in itself.
“Perthshire Big Astroturf Country” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, does it?
Eileen Thomas. 50 Muirs, Kinross.
Must cut down on waste
Sir, Amid all the recent coverage of domestic waste disposal issues in The Courier, it seems that a major piece in this jigsaw is missing. It was, however, touched upon in a letter of Friday, August 16, by AW A’Hara, who talked of “the detritus of modern living”.
Constant revamping and upgrading of our homes and their contents are bound to result in ever growing mountains of products being thrown away, only a fraction of which will be reused in some way. But while there needs to be a shift in mindset of consumers, away from wasteful lifestyles, the onus must also be on those who design and manufacture all our consumer goods.
Factories should take back products at the end of their useful lives and either repair them or use the component parts to make something else, so that little or nothing is wasted.
This system, known as the circular economy, is not that different to the way things were done in past generations in this country and indeed the way things are still done in many parts of the world today. We cannot go on producing and wasting resources as if we had three planets.
Sally Romilly. 4 Westwood Terrace, Newport-on-Tay.
Option should be considered
Sir, Why put the Caledonian Sleeper out for tender to private firms some of which have a poor track record in exploiting other areas of public services? I use the sleeper regularly and I would have much greater long-term confidence in a public service rather than one run for private profit.
If a publicly run service is cheaper and more efficient then why should that option not be considered?
David Mumford. 9 Castle Street, Brechin.