Today’s mailbag focuses on the loss of historic buildings, getting on our bikes to save fuel, Perth’s Connect2 bridge, no expenses for pensioners, and actual crime versus reported crime.
We must protect character of our rural towns
Sir,-As a past employee of Don Brothers Buist of Forfar (latterly Don & Low) I was sad to see the picture of a local landmark razed for yet another supermarket. Angus Council should hang its head in shame over the recent history of this site which they abandoned a few years back in favour of an out-of-town new build at Orchardbank.
Forfar not only lost an iconic building big enough to accommodate most of our council departments but also the spending power of the staff, which help keep the town buzzing during lunchtimes.
Don & Low also left the premises as a result of a consolidation exercise under Shell UK, their new owners at that time, and left the building in excellent order, having spent substantial sums of money on it, which Angus Council then took over.
I hope the council have at least retained the historical written and pictorial records which formed part of a collection sponsored by Dons, very much a highly successful family-owned company until selling out to Shell in 1987.
How many more historic buildings are going to disappear before the council wakes up to its responsibilities as the guardian of Angus’s town and countryside heritage? I know that all councils are strapped for cash but if we wish to continue as a tourist destination we must stop destroying the character of our towns.
Ronald W. Silverstone.Brusil,Shielhill Road,Northmuir.
On your bikes for fuel savings
Sir,-Your reader survey (March 7) highlighted the pressure that the rising fuel price is putting on people’s budgets. Unfortunately, as future supplies of oil will struggle to keep up with growing demand, it is likely that fuel prices will continue to increase for years to come.
We can expect the same for basic foodstuffs, made worse by the impact of climate change. So we are all going to face growing pressures on household budgets.
For some people at least, it is possible to make savings on fuel by walking or cycling instead of using the car for some local journeys. It has become a habit for us to jump in the car for short trips to the shops, to visit friends, or even go to the gym.
STRIDE (Sustainable Travel in Dundee East) is a community project set up a year ago to encourage more people to walk, cycle, get the bus or car share. It is supported by the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund which aims to reduce carbon emissions through local initiatives.
However, we have found that people are more likely to respond to the personal benefits of saving money and getting fitter through “active travel.” It is a way to get some exercise without making big changes to your daily routine, just by making some short journeys on foot or on a bike instead of by car.
It makes sense when buying a few necessities to shop locally instead of always driving to the supermarket. Or people could cycle to work once or twice a week. Schools have been particularly interested in promoting active travel with us, both for pupils and staff.
With the weather improving, it is just the right time to get out there and enjoy a journey in the fresh air, clear your head and save some money as well.
Andrew Llanwarne.Sustainable Travel in Dundee East,Douglas Community Centre.
Squandering taxpayers’ cash
Sir,-Reports of a revival of Perth’s Connect2 bridge project may save the embarrassment of a few councillors and please a few cyclists but is not a rational use of resources when money is short and more obvious needs are great.
Local people know that repair of winter-ravaged roads is a priority well ahead of an “iconic” bridge almost nobody wants and many have objected to as wasteful and damaging.
Have the Connect2 proponents not learned from the fiasco of recent public works such as the Edinburgh trams which seemed a good idea at the time? We need a more rational review of how taxpayers’ money is spent.
(Dr) Charles Wardrop.111 Viewlands Road West,Perth.
Plight of our elderly ignored
Sir,-Recent correspondents have challenged the view that Labour was fiscally irresponsible. I am in my 90th year but, in my 80th year, the then Chancellor awarded me a 30p pension increase. His name was Gordon Brown.
In the same year MPs awarded themselves £1000 on their salaries and, apparently, the Chancellor approved. Some years later, as Prime Minister, Gordon Brown abolished the 10p tax rate, which placed a greater burden on lower earners.
MPs have seen their salaries rise year after year while the elderly can no longer buy a second-class stamp with their pension increase. I cannot claim expenses but I note that one MP has claimed £200,000 in expenses.
James MacMillan.9 Manor Court,Coupar Angus Road,Blairgowrie.
Misleading crime figures
Sir,-At a time when our politicians keep preaching to us that crime is on the decrease, it was interesting to read (March 5) that crime in Tayside has actually increased.
Could this be due to the fact that there is always confusion between actual crime and reported crime, with the latter always looking good in statistics?
John McDonald.14 Rosebery Court,Kirkcaldy.
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.