Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir,-Following on from Mike Cuthbert’s letter (July 18), I have noticed on several occasions that the camera partnership van sometimes sits on top of the mounds that Mr Cuthbert said the van was lurking behind (A92 eastbound between Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy).
On the approach to these mounds there is a sign that clearly states “Police Patrol Vehicles Only”.
Given that the camera van is not a police patrol vehicle should it not therefore be assumed it is parked illegally and so any speeding offence recorded by this van is invalid?
Whatever happened to the signs the camera vans use to have to put out, warning of a camera van ahead?
Is it illegal for a motorist to warn other, oncoming motorists, about the camera vans?
Stephen Caldwell.31 Bankton Park,Kingskettle.
Should notice operators’ sign
Sir,-In today’s paper (July 18) you gave space to a motorist objecting to a mobile speed camera on the A92. The legal speed limit at that dual carriageway is 70mph.
Had the driver been adhering to the limit, he would then not have had to write girning about the siting and possible motivation for placing these units, and could pay proper attention to observation.
Had he been doing so in the first place, he would have noticed the temporary sign deployed by operators.
I wish that more emphasis were given to proper traffic policing rather than speed traps away from obvious hazards, but speed limits are the law.
Angus Sinclair.End House,Rossie Priory,Inchure.
What will tanks be used for?
Sir,-Fife and Scotland is stabbed in the back by the Liberals and Conservatives in London. The closure of the RAF bases at Kinloss and at Leuchars is disturbing on many levels.
Not only is Scotland’s air defence, and the associated high skill jobs, being all but removed, Scotland is about to be flooded with thousands of English soldiers and their families.
By the time Scotland votes for independence, Mr Cameron will have 7000 troops nicely entrenched in Scotland to make sure we all behave ourselves.
We may even wake one morning to find Holyrood surrounded by the tanks that will return with these regiments from Germany.
Also it will be handy to have another 14,000 unionist votes in Fife and Moray, won’t it?
Am I being paranoid? Time will tell.
But in any military campaign, you have to disable your enemies’ airfields. Mr Cameron can do this without firing a shot.
C. Laing.44 Moness Crescent,Aberfeldy.
Some money-saving tips
Sir,-According to some reports millions of people are unable to feed themselves or heat their homes.
As a poor pensioner I would like to pass on a few tips. Stop smoking. Cut down on alcohol. Do not buy lottery tickets or scratch cards. Stay out of bingo halls, casinos and betting shops.
If you live near a bus stop get rid of your car. Coffee shops are a rip-off.
I think the above should stave off malnutrition and hypothermia.
Tom Black.56 Russell Place,Dundee.
Way to save our fishing industry
Sir,-Yet again what remains of our fishing industry is being threatened with more stringent quotas and reduced days at sea. These conditions are being imposed by the EU to preserve fish stocks.
When 27 countries, some without coastlines, are fighting over fishing rights, can a solution ever be found to the satisfaction of all?
There is a simple way to allow fish stocks to grow, to regenerate our on and off-shore fishing industry and to revitalise communities and that is to take back control of our territorial waters.
A British government could decide the type of trawler, method of fishing, size of mesh and the protection of spawning beds.
Once fish were plentiful the government could also decide whether a strictly controlled number of foreign boats should be allowed access.
This would of course upset our continental neighbours but would be of great benefit to the UK.
William Scott.23 St Baldred’s Road,North Berwick.
Match one pledge with another
Sir,-To her credit, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has been quick off the mark to give assurances of continuing quality care for those patients who have been caught up in the collapse of Southern Cross care homes.
Can the residents of Fife now receive similar assurances from Ms Sturgeon as the SNP/Liberal Democrat Council are intent on off-loading their treasured, comfortable, well run homes to the private sector?
R. H. L. Mulheron.28 Cowgate,Tayport.
Anti-Army views offensive
Sir,-RAF Leuchars is to close as an airbase and be reoccupied by Army units.
I wish to comment on the quiet dignity with which the people of Wootton Bassett have accepted the closure of their adjacent RAF Lyneham (with no compensating adjustment) compared with strident anti-Army outpourings of some in Leuchars.
It offended me and many other ex and serving members of the Army. To replace RAF personnel with Army should make little difference to the local economic situation.
A. T. Geddie.Carleton Avenue,Glenrothes.
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.