Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir,- In reference to the recent court case and attendant publicity regarding PC Paula Wales, I am astounded that the press coverage adopts a tone of jubilation when reporting the verdict of not guilty, using the word ‘exonerated’ to describe the outcome for PC Wales. This word in no way reflects the situation.
Here we have an officer whose duty is to protect the public from criminals who are a blight on the communities upon which they prey, yet she chooses instead to involve herself intimately with a criminal who is known to Tayside Police, a situation she herself is made aware of by one of her own colleagues. Therefore, whether or not she knew of an outstanding warrant is irrelevant.
The public do not expect police officers to be superhuman, devoid of any faults. However, surely the most basic equation that any officer should be able to calculate is that of public and police versus the criminals.
Hopefully the internal enquiry to be conducted by Tayside Police will have a broader remit than the limited charge dealt with by the court.
Lorraine Sharpe.8 Peddie Street,Dundee.
Salute to the firefighters of Balmossie
Sir, – After the ridiculous hulabaloo that has followed the Audit Commision’s report on Tayside Fire and Rescue, I was astonished to read an Angus councillor claiming to be apolitical when sitting in on fire board meetings.
Quite laughably, he says he is an open-minded councillor who wants to take a fire engine from an area of high density of population within the City of Dundee, and put it in a town in Angus in his own area where the retained firefighters already do an incredible job.
Well, well, well if that’s being apolitical I suggest he looks at the definition of the term.
I am so glad Fraser McKinlay (Audit Scotland) has come back to clarify the situation regarding the crazy suggestion that the thousands of responses from the public during consulations into two attempts to remove full-time cover from Balmossie were in fact from the FBU members were just nonsense.
If Cllr Fairweather wants a platform to be seen to justify his salary then I suggest he goes somewhere else to do it. Either that or look at the incredible work the firefighters do at Balmossie regarding hundreds of fire safety visits, fires, and backing up incidents involving other fire stations in Tayside, which incidentally do not show up as turnouts in Balmossie figures.
The people of Tayside fought and won two often bitter campaigns against a reduction of resources at Balmossie. I salute them and say to Mr Fairweather: stay out of our affairs.
Ed Thomson. Balmossie Campaign Co-ordinator.
Confusion over rail crossings
Sir, – I am writing to point out a few discrepancies with your article: “More crossings could close”.
I have lived at Errol Station since 1976 and am fully aware of the problems of having to cross the level crossing many times each day. However, the photograph that accompanies the article is of the fully-manned crossing at Errol Station, whereas the incident with the bus happened on the unmanned crossing at Inchture.
There have been many incidents of cars, etc. hitting the barriers over the years at the Errol Station crossing, but no one has been hurt.
There has to be some responsibility attached to the drivers. A steady amber light preceeds the flashing red lights when the barriers come down with an audible warning signal.
It would be impossible to close these crossings, as the railway line bisects the Carse of Gowrie.
I, for one, would hate to see the crossing at Errol Station automated as the signalman is there 24 hours a day and has to deal with lots of incidents.
Liz Bright.Errol Station,Errol.
High honour for Karen
Sir, – Mr Garry Fraser’s review of opera is welcome. It is a great pity he didn’t mention that Karen Cargill, Arbroath’s international opera singer, is to perform the role of Valtraute (mentioned in the review) at the same Metropolitan Opera House in New York in April this year.
Hasn’t she done well!
Ben Phillips. Easter Braikie,Arbroath.
Hard to accept such profligacy
Sir, – Like all taxpayers, I think it is an absolute scandal that some councils (not Fife) are sending delegates to a so-called “cost-cutting” conference in a luxury hotel near St Andrews, with one sending six representatives.
At a time when folk are facing cutbacks and job losses, it is a scandal that taxpayers’ money should be thrown down the drain by such gimmicks.
John McDonald.14, Rosebery Court,Kirkcaldy.
Calm before the storm?
Sir, – How ironic that in your recent beautiful, sparkling colour picture of a wave electricity generator, the sea was as calm as a mill pond.
Should Scotland gain independence, the renewables subsidies will have to be borne by five million Scots as opposed to 60 million UK residents.
Could this become Scotland’s Achilles’ heel?
Stephen Grieve.60 Nethergate,Crail.
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. Letters should be accompanied by an address and a daytime telephone number.