This morning’s letters to the editor of The Courier discuss the Balmossie fire station campaign, Christianity, Forth Ports’ turbines plan for Dundee and council advice on recycling.
Can’t compromise solve fire stations dispute? Sir,-Having written a letter of concern to your column during the early stages of the Balmossie Fire Station issue, I note with concern your front page article (April 9).
The article indicated call-out figures for the stations involved but I have heard these figures do not include the number of call-outs Balmossie are involved in as back-up to other stations, which seems strange.
It would also be interesting to be told who decides what criteria they use for selecting the station to initially attend major incidents, as I have again heard that the decision is no longer based on geographical area boundaries, which is also strange.
As in all disputes everyone is looking to achieve their own aims; the Forfar community, understandably, seek full-time cover and those in Broughty Ferry wish to retain theirs. Could a solution not be found therefore to have full-time cover at both stations to allay everyone’s fears by relocating resources from the larger stations and making savings elsewhere without risking safety?
Denis G. W. Thornton.20 Colliston Drive,Broughty Ferry.
No longer a Christian country
Sir,-For Britain to have been a Christian country “for over 2000 years” as M. Clark asserts (April 9) is remarkable considering Christ’s mission had not even begun 2000 years ago, when he was a boy.
While the earliest hints of Christianity in Britain date to the Roman period, these islands remained largely pagan for centuries after the time of Christ. With the percentage of regular churchgoers in single digits, and the majority of those calling themselves Christian probably knowing little of Christian mythology and doctrine, it is an exaggeration to call Britain a Christian country now.
I don’t give a hoot if Christians have a parade, subject to the same bye-laws as any other group doing the same. But, as their faith continues its welcome decline, parading Christians will increasingly be looked on as irrelevant eccentrics.
Finally, M. Clark, should not forget the origins of Easter – a pagan spring festival.
Dr Stephen Moreton.33 Marina Avenue,Great Sankey,Warrington.
Missing out on the joke?
Sir,-Poor George K McMillan just can’t win. When he tries to be serious his letters are a hoot. When he tries to be humorous, as in his letter about Easter, people like M. Clark take him seriously!
Dr David Griffiths41 Haston CrescentPerth
A religion under siege
Sir,-Some of your recent correspondents have evinced a latent hostility to Christianity in the letters column. Atheists and sceptics there have always been, and I would defend their right to express their point of view.
But today’s atheists and sceptics such as Richard Dawkins et al, rather than supplying a cogent critique in opposition, tend to produce a diatribe.
Recently the BBC televised a programme suggesting there is a subtle undermining of Christianity, evidenced by a nurse going to a tribunal to defend her right to wear a cross as an expression of her faith, and a London Registrar disciplined for refusing to conduct a service for same sex couples as it violated her beliefs.
In a secular pluralistic society both the religious and non-religious with different lifestyles must be tolerated, I suppose it is a matter of political correctness.
The downside is the increasing fragmentation of society to be seen in broken relationships, broken homes and broken lives, not to mention the recent fiasco of a number of our honourable members helping themselves to taxpayers’ money.
No doubt the relationship between the Kirk and the state has conferred certain privileges in the past and to some extent still does.
Political correctness may hold this situation to account, but constructively the Church of Scotland is the largest caring agency, next to statutory bodies, for the care of the sick, the infirm, the afflicted and the addicted.
Rev. J. Harrison Hudson.22 Hamilton Avenue,Tayport.
No added value for Dundee citizens
Sir,-I’m sitting at work in Edinburgh as I read the article ‘Giant turbines plan for Dundee harbour’ article with growing disbelief.
The threat by Forth Energy to locate these on Dundee’s unique waterfront has to be exposed as the unacceptable face of private enterprise that it is.
Seeking maximum return for their shareholders at the expense of anyone or anything else may encourage an increase in the value of any imminent share bid but will hardly represent compelling value for the citizens of Dundee.
Forth Ports have loads of land on Edinburgh’s shoreline – can there be a compelling reason why there’s been no similar application here, I wonder?
Bill Potter.28 Howe Street,Edinburgh.
Rubbish advice from council
Sir,-The latest directive from Angus Council says we are no longer allowed to put tea bags, coffee grounds or fruit and vegetable peelings into our green bins, which, just in case you don’t know, go to keep the world a greener place by composting the contents of the said bin.
However, the leaflet also explains these same items make a useful compost for your garden. Aren’t local councils wonderful things!
J. R. Smith.44 Glamis Road,Kirriemuir.