Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, Some pious words were voiced recently by Fife Council elected members and officials about the affordability and attraction of rail travel (Courier, January 21).
I don”t want to re-run the argument about the ending in May 2010 of the concessionary scheme for over-60s from the county to Dundee, Edinburgh and Perth.
In the end a suitable compromise was reached which kept the concession for journeys within Fife. This meant that in effect the over-60s had to pay around half fare if they wished to travel, say, from Markinch to Waverley Station.
The trouble is they have to buy separate tickets one for that part of the journey that is within Fife and one for the remainder.
I can”t help but feel that ScotRail have missed a marketing opportunity here. Instead of the cumbersome issuing of various tickets, why don”t they announce to the over-60s that they can get to the three cities for half price?
Most people would feel that a 50% discount in the current climate was still a pretty good deal.
Getting more people on the many trains that are clearly underoccupied must make sense.
Fife Council is right to be concerned about the comfort and convenience of all passengers. But they could put a lot more pressure on ScotRail and the other rail companies to improve their act when it comes to the way they project themselves to that big market that is the over-60s.
Bob Taylor.24 Shiel Court,Glenrothes.
Cool heads are what is needed
Sir, – Mr Parker’s intemperate letter (January 21), calling for the “extermination of nationalism” is exactly the sort of contribution to the independence debate that we can do without. This is an important period for our nation and cool heads are needed. Sadly the debate has consisted largely of scares, misrepresentation and evasion.
Donald Gatt (January 19), asked about how Scotland would replace central UK government bodies and agencies. That is exactly the sort of pertinent point that defenders of the Union should be making and that supporters of independence should be considering.
James Christie.2 Dryburgh Crescent,Perth.
Fife’s banana kingdom
Sir, – I was shocked by Jenny Hjul’s recent article painting Scotland as a banana republic. This is disturbing news.
Countless Scottish children have been told by parents that bananas come from the Kingdom of Fife. What do we tell them now?
Malcolm McCandless.40 Muirfield Crescent,Dundee.
Not an area for knighthoods
Sir, – The real question is not whether Sir Fred Goodwin should lose his knighthood, but why he was ever given one in the first place.
The citation reads “For services to banking” as though banking was some worthy cause producing social benefit for all, instead of being what it actually is, just a game for rich kids with the rules written by rich kids, in which they get richer by simply betting on the movement of financial markets, which they themselves control, so that either way they win.
Banking is totally parasitic and contributes nothing to the economy by way of added value.
It is hardly an area for the award of knighthoods.
Malcolm Parkin.15 Gamekeepers Road,Kinnesswood,Kinross.
Still fails to meet criteria
Sir, – If West Coast Energy have reduced the scale of their Devon Wood project from seven turbines to five in response to concerns expressed by members of the public (Courier, January 19), I will eat my hat.
At this stage the only conceivable reason is that the bigger scheme would get the thumbs down from the planners because it does not meet landscape and visual impact criteria and would have significant adverse impacts on amenity.
The reduced scheme has much the same impact on that criteria and so still fails to meet national and local policy.
Community benefit, as the developer knows, is not a material planning issue but still they flog it relentlessly with every site they seek to develop.
It is a tool often used to try to make unacceptable schemes acceptable.
I hope Clatto Hill and the people who live there are spared from this development.
Graham Lang.Westermost,Coaltown of Callange,Ceres.
Great support
Sir, – The Perth Charity Christmas Card (PCCC) committee would like to thank all your readers and the volunteers who supported the card shop in the A. K. Bell Library, last year.
This week 22 charities have been given cheques totalling £41,688. We are able to give 100% back to the charities; this is possible through Perth & Kinross Council providing the space and our large contingent of volunteers.
Sandra Parkins.PCCC co-ordinator.
Terrible, but…
Sir, – Thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money is being paid out in expenses to councillors from Argyll and Bute Council, who travelled from the islands to attend a meeting in Lochgilphead.
Due to items being withdrawn from the agenda, the meeting lasted only eight minutes. Some councillors complained; they could have refused the expenses!
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.