Today our correspondents discuss a council’s unwillingness to help an elderly lady with her bin, condemn the violence in Northern Ireland and question the value of our laws when they can apparently be over-ruled by Brussels. One writer proclaims her support for Gordon Banks’ bowel screening campaign, while another tells us of his pleasure at the thought of a daughter receiving a long-lost letter from her father.
Binmen told to leave elderly lady to struggle Sir,-As an elderly lady, I find it impossible to move the garden waste bin six yards to the gate.
I forwarded the doctor’s letter of explanation to the appropriate council department. A few weeks later, two council employees visited me with the information that, as I had a gravel path, the rules of health and safety forbade the binmen from giving assistance.
No mention was made of my health and safety.
(Mrs) Margaret Stuart.Culdeesland Road,Methven.
Condemn march violence
Sir,-The level of violence associated with Monday’s Orange Order marches in Northern Ireland must be of considerable concern to those who have written to you praising and supporting the recent march in Perth.
Petrol bombings, shooting, riot police on the streets, a policewoman injured and her colleagues and ambulance staff subjected to missile attacks, and a bill of millions of pounds, according to the Chief Constable of Northern Ireland, are part of the legacy of this organisation’s claim of a right to march to celebrate its Protestant heritage.
Dr Bernard Senior (July 8) states, correctly, that the right to free speech and peaceful demonstration must be maintained but history has clearly shown that these events inevitably end in violence. By their very purpose, and the routes selected, they are provocative and threaten the fragile peace and trust slowly being built in Northern Ireland.
Leaders of the local lodges who have been quick to praise the peaceful nature of the march in Perth now have a civic duty to condemn Monday’s violence, but must also justify why marches regardless of location should be allowed to continue, knowing they will ultimately attract violence and continue to be a source of tension for Catholics and Nationalists who view them as bigoted, intimidating and triumphalist.
Orange marching, to me, seems to fail the test of peaceful demonstration. We are, I think, entitled to believe that many of those marching and spectating in Perth would be similarly involved in Northern Ireland on July 12.
While the march in Perth passed peacefully, the Orange Order in Scotland, the various lodges and individual participants, cannot dissociate themselves from the provocation and violence experienced on Monday. They are condemned by association.
Murray Duncan.100 Craigie Road,Perth.
Laws ignored or overruled
Sir,-Dr David B. Griffiths (July 10) very kindly puts a reader right on the law regarding filtering by motorcyclists.
The reader concerned was justified in his complaint about the bad road behaviour of too many motorcyclists, although safe filtering is legal and enables motorcycle messengers and others to make their way through heavy, slow-moving or stationary traffic.
I have experience of motorcycling all over Europe and driving anything from three-wheelers to buses. Like many drivers, I keep an eye out in traffic queues for motorcyclists coming up from behind and move to the side if I can to let them through.
There are too many motorcyclists, however, who ride dangerously, weaving through traffic far too fast and depend on the careful driving of motorists to keep them out of trouble. I have witnessed many a near thing with motorcyclists squeezing through a narrow gap just as the cars either side start to move forward. Only by the grace of God and safe drivers are they still with us today.
With all due respect to Dr Griffiths, our laws hardly matter at all these days. Our courts try to enforce our laws and time and again their decisions are overturned by the European courts. It will soon be pointless having Dr Griffiths’ expertise in Scottish or English law. The only laws worth knowing about will be those emanating from Brussels.
Bring on the promised referendum on membership of Europe, Mr Cameron. I am sure a majority of Britons would like to see the UK out and no longer hog-tied by Brussels’ edicts.
George K. McMillan.5 Mount Tabor Avenue,Perth.
Importance of screening
Sir,-I whole heartedly back Ochil and South Perthshire MP Gordon Banks in his campaign on bowel cancer awareness, but would point out it is just as important for women to do the screening test.
I have done it since it began here in Tayside and, at the end of 2008, I failed it. The growth found after a colonoscopy was removed along with a large part of my bowel.
After tests it was found to have just turned cancerous but, because of such an early find, I do not need any treatment apart from an annual CT scan and six monthly blood tests, which are nothing to what might have been. So my message to everyone is to do the screening tests.
(Mrs) Briony Robertson.31 Highfield Road,Scone.
Emotional time warp
Sir,-I found your story (July 10) of the mail being found by Dundee University student Freya Cowan on Mont Blanc a heart-warming tale.
One can only guess the emotion the late Hank Smith’s daughter will be feeling when she takes delivery of a letter posted by her father in 1950, but which never arrived due to the tragic loss of Air India flight 245 over the French Alps.
George Aimer.Kinghorne Road,Dundee.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.