Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – I was delighted to read that north east Fife planning committee has rejected the applications to install two windfarms on Clatto Hill. The landscape from Falkland to Cupar, and beyond to St Andrews and Newport, is very special, with many outstanding features such as the Lomonds, Cults Hill, Hill of Tarvit and Lucklaw.
If wind turbine companies have their way, our glorious countryside will be blighted by these monstrosities, which probably in the short/medium term will become obsolete. Meantime the folks living in rural areas are expected to just tolerate these.
Hopefully less intrusive windfarms out on the North Sea must be the priority, and perhaps in the course of time cold fusion can be harnessed.
I gather that the next hearing relating to these windfarms is to be held shortly in Levenmouth. This anomaly is apparently because an anemometer mast is in their area. I would have thought it highly unlikely that anyone living in Kennoway or Leven would be able to see the turbines.
I am most perturbed to learn that West Coast Energy is apparently offering a ‘community benefit package’ to the folks of Kennoway and Kingskettle. This form of ‘enticement’ indicates that windfarm developers do realise that their turbines are an eyesore.
Such an offer may well interest Kennoway folk, who probably won’t be able to see the turbines, but I’m certain residents of Kingskettle, Cults, Ladybank, Falkland, Cupar and Ceres and District would rather have a turbine-free landscape.
Robert I. G. Scott.Honorary Secretary,Ceres & DistrictCommunity Council.
A leader to be proud of
Sir, – Saturday’s letters page probably helps to point where The Courier’s political sympathies may lie.
We have Mr Davis from Pitlochry who welcomes Alistair Darling into the anti-independence debate on the basis that he will worry Alex Salmond.
Really? Is this the same Alistair Darling who was part of one of the most inept UK governments in recent times? What difference is he, and other Labour MPs at Westminster, making to Scotland’s well-being?
We then have the ludicrous comments from Mr Wilson of Kingskettle about balanced views on the independence question. Does he read the daily papers? In almost every case there is the usual grinding negativity towards the idea this country should have the temerity to go it alone.
Lastly we have Mr McKinnon’s offensive personal attack on Alex Salmond which gives rise to the impression he is not only small-minded but jealous too.
Those of us with a pride in Scotland know we have a leader many times the calibre of Mr McKinnon and his ilk. And for those correspondents I have only one question: are you Scots?
John Campbell.Auchrannie Terrace,Dundee.
Pipes should be replaced
Sir, – Re the recent Letham water saga, I agree it wasn’t fit for a dog to drink. I was notified by a neighbour querying the suitability of it for drinking. I looked for myself and couldn’t see the bottom of the wash-hand basin! At the end of it all, there was half an inch of silt to clean out from the toilet cisterns.
I ran a kitchen tap, a bath tap and a garden hose to an outside drain all day and night for a couple of days. It was only clear enough for a shower at 5am on the third day.
Why was I not told of planned bottled water supplies when I phoned twice on Sunday? Why was I not called back to be informed of what was happening, when I had already left my name and number twice? Why was nothing put out on the radio or television? Why was there no loudspeaker van coming round to let everyone know?
Considering our water is provided from the clouds for ‘nowt’ and we have to pay for it to be supplied to the house and again to put it down the sewer, the cost of information would have been minimal. I shall seek some sort of reimbursement for all the inconvenience.
Scottish Water know their pipes are rotten. Get them replaced.
Geoff Bray.Heather Croft,Letham, by Forfar.
Support for schools idea
Sir, – Your leader on Friday asked whether “all the main parties have agreed not to make Madras College an issue in the election”.
While the others may have, out of embarrassment at their failure to deliver, the Conservatives will continue to push for their two-school solution, one in St Andrews and one in the Tay Bridgehead area.
We know there’s significant support for our idea. At the very least, it should be offered to the public as part of a proper consultation, to be carried out before a decision is made.
(Cllr) Dave Dempsey.Leader, Fife Council Conservatives.
They should all have this right
Sir, – Your recent article on dolphins started with “Dolphins deserve to be treated as ‘non-human persons’ whose rights to life and liberty should be respected”.
Unless they are a health hazard, surely all creatures should have these rights, not just dolphins.
Why should we think that we are the superior species on this planet?
Sheila Phillips.3 Strathaird Place,Dundee.
Mild but also very wet
Sir, – Daffodils have been in full bloom in Bruichladdich, Isle of Islay since Saturday February 18.
This winter has been very mild in Islay but unfortunately also very wet.
Douglas W. Tott.Stoneyburn,Bruichladdich,Isle of Islay.
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.