Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Councillor Nield, education convener of Angus Council, claims ‘the truth will out’ (Courier, March 12) at a judicial review concerning the Arbroath schools project.
This legal action is being taken because the Scottish Government rejected the council’s plans to close two Arbroath schools. Ironically, one reason for this was the council’s lack of transparency in how it had administered the ‘information’ to support this project.
Why was the ‘truth’ about this situation not transparent from the outset?
If the councillor is confident that the legal action will find in Angus Council’s favour, why has the council failed to produce convincing and acceptable plans to the public without going to court?
So far the people of Angus are completely in the dark about the reasons why Councillor Nield is so convinced that the council will win the case.
When the issue was discussed by the council the public were excluded. Members of the public who had attended were actually ejected from the debate.
Councillor Nield has also dragged party politics into his argument.
He appears to have forgotten that this issue concerns children, parents and communities who have no interest in his political squabbles.
He should be focusing his attention on the people he represents and who are considerably distressed by the council’s actions to date.
So far it appears that the council has gone to extraordinary lengths to conceal information from the public.
Why?
Fiona McClymont.5 Camus place,Craigton of Monikie.
Scotland must wake up to this real threat
Sir, – Local people and politicians are rightly concerned as to the future of RAF Leuchars and when the army base will be established.
But Cllr Peter Grant, SNP leader of Fife Council, would be better to devote his energies to explaining the SNP proposals for defence following any positive move to independence.
The effects on the Scottish economy and employment could be monumental compared to just the loss of RAF Leuchars.
There would be a sharp cut back in army bases throughout Scotland, the remaining parts of the UK would not base troops in Scotland.
Right now the SNP call for three military flying bases in Scotland; with independence, we would be lucky to have one.
Rosyth would probably close, there would be little or no warship construction on the Clyde, and thousands would be thrown out of work with the closure of the Clyde submarine base.
And we will be pulled out of NATO, just when everybody else wants to join.
The current uncertainty over Leuchars is nothing compared to what will happen if the SNP get their way. Scotland must wake up to the devastation that would ensue.
Andrew Gilmour.Londive,Montrave Home Farm,Leven.
Pot, kettle and black?
Sir, – Jenny Hjul bemoans SNP ”propagandists” (March 14): pot calling the kettle black, anyone?
Ms Hjul herself has resorted to smearing and attacking her opponents, instead of presenting empirical evidence to support her argument.
Is this because she has secretly realised that Scots no longer accept that we are too wee, too poor or too thick to govern ourselves?
This piece of spurious Unionist propaganda has lost all its credibility in the eyes of the Scottish public and whatever new ones Ms Hjul concocts are destined to suffer the same fate.
When the facts are aired ahead of the independence referendum, Scots will correctly conclude that we are, in fact, too significant, too rich and too clever not to govern ourselves and re-join the international family of nations, where we truly belong.
David Kelly.17 Highfield,Dunblane.
No need to be maths expert
Sir, – Whitehall officials reported that electricity prices today are 15% more expensive because of the Government’s ”green policies” which add green taxes imposed by the EU and Westminster.
One standard sized wind turbine gets £250,000 in subsidy annually, paid by the energy user, for every £150,000 of electricity generated.
Now calculate. If the subsidies on the existing 3500 wind turbines in the UK add 15% to energy bills, and in order to meet ”cloud cuckoo-land” emission reduction targets we need to build at least another 20,000 wind turbines, how much will our electricity bills need to rise?
Next calculate to the nearest million how many families will be forced into ”fuel poverty” as a result of these renewables subsidies.
Finally calculate how many more manufacturing companies will either move abroad or go into liquidation because of escalating electricity prices.
One does not need to be a mathematician to see that renewables subsidies are unsustainable and will bankrupt the UK, especially an independent Scotland.
Clark Cross.138 Springfield Road,Linlithgow.
A real option
Sir, – Further to your recent front page article regarding the ongoing saga of the Laurencekirk A90/A937 junction, is there any reason for not constructing a roundabout?
A roundabout would be cheaper than a flyover and would be much safer than the present set-up. Having worked in Laurencekirk, been involved in some near misses and seen some accidents, a roundabout is a real option. Or am I missing something?
Grahame Lockhart.Myrtle Cottage,Brechin.
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.