Sir, I refer to Graham Huband’s article in the Courier (January 23) on the challenges facing Dundee Airport.
I am immensely proud of the staff at Dundee Airport. They are a dedicated, professional team who desperately want Dundee Airport to succeed and are entirely focused on attracting new business to the region and providing the highest standards of customer service.
I fully understand the concerns expressed in The Courier over recent weeks about falling passenger numbers and the withdrawal of key services.
I want to reassure your readers we are doing every-thing possible to secure new passenger services, but I also think it right that we acknowledge some of the challenges we face.
There has been some criticism that fares are too high at Dundee. Let me be clear. HIAL does not set ticket prices. That is entirely a matter for airlines.
Where we can make a difference is through our landing charges and we have worked very hard with our airline partners to ensure their costs are kept as low as possible.
We need to work harder than ever to promote Dundee as a business and leisure destination, but it can’t be achieved by HIAL alone and it won’t happen overnight.
We do need the supportof local residents, businesses and politicians.
Inglis Lyon. Managing Director, HIAL, Head Office, Inverness Airport.
We need to reclaim our streets
Sir, I hope The Courier’s series of articles about prostitution in Dundee will galvanise police, social work, NHS and voluntary organisations to work together to rid our streets of this unwanted intrusion.
I know many women in Maryfield would avoid walking along the street or waiting at the bus stop in certain locations because they are fearful about being propositioned by leering kerb crawlers.
I think they will only make a lasting impression on this issue if these agencies seek to respond to the circumstances that precipitate women becoming prostitutes on our streets such as the economic desperation of paying for their drugs.
Likewise we will only clear the streets of kerb crawlers if we prosecute these men and name and shame them.
With regard to the latter, I think The Courier could help by agreeing to publish the names and addresses of convicted kerb crawlers from Courier Country.
I hope these agencies will commit to make a difference and together we can reclaim our streets.
Georgia Cruickshank. Councillor Maryfield, Dundee.
Tax exiles don’t deserve vote
Sir, Tax exile Sean Connery is also a well-known and valuable supporter, both vocally and financially, of the SNP and the campaign for Scottish independence. Meanwhile, it is reported that Scots living outside of Scotland, but still in the UK, are to be denied a vote in the coming referendum.
In the early days of democratic development, first the nobility, then the lesser landowners, then citizens owning property and paying tax were given the vote. Gradually, the franchise was extended until it embraced all citizens of 18 years of age and over, including women.
It is entirely wrong, however, that anybody neither resident in the UK nor paying UK taxes should be allowed to vote or to lend financial support to a political party or a political cause, particularly on such an important issue as Scottish independence.
Voting should be confined to UK citizens born in Scotland or who have been resident here for a considerable time. Any Scottish tax exiles such as Sean Connery who can afford to pay UK taxes, but don’t, should be denied the vote and the right to give financial support to any political party.
George K McMillan. 5 Mount Tabor Avenue, Perth.
With friends like these…
Sir, I read with interest the condemnation by Friends of the Earth of biomass as a form of renewable energy, which they refer to as “climate-wrecking”.
Their outspokenness on the subject is perhaps understandable since, just 10 years ago, in a submission to the then Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, they demanded that biofuels be made compulsory.
Perhaps the Earth would be better served by a period of silence from these “friends”.
Andrew Montford. 30 New Road, Milnathort.
Snow “panic”
Sir, Police, motoring organisations and television news bulletins are flooding us with advice to drive with extreme care during the current weather conditions. Should we not be driving with extreme care at all times, rather than just when we have a snow “panic”?
John McDonald. 14 Rosebery Court, Kirkcaldy.
Colour clash
Sir, A new wind turbine has been erected which I can see from my kitchen window. It is white like all the others. Why can they not be painted a colour which blends with their background perhaps dark green?
Garry Barnett. Campsie Hill, Guildtown, Perth.