Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – On the vexed subject of a single site campus for Madras College I am writing to urge the reopening of discussions between Fife Council and St Andrews University along the lines of the original proposal.
As a former pupil of Madras and a graduate of St Andrews University, I was delighted when the original idea of a land swap and the possibility of further cooperation and the sharing of facilities, where appropriate, between the university and Madras, was first mooted and discussed.
This certainly seemed to me to be by far and away the best long-term solution to this issue.
Needless to say, I was utterly dismayed when the negotiations foundered and the short-term sub-optimal solution of developing the Kilrymont site as a single site campus for Madras became a distinct possibility.
Why the negotiations between the university and Fife Council failed was never really clear to me. Certainly differences in land valuations were given as a reason (although I am not aware as to the scale of these differences).
However, it does seem to me that the inability of one and very probably both parties to negotiate in good faith, with the broader interests of the community and future generations in mind, likely played a major part in the breakdown of these talks.
The university has 600 years of history and Madras College was founded more than 180 years ago. We should not be talking about a short-term fix for the next 20 or 30 years, but rather thinking of the best solution for the next several generations.
I and many others believe Fife Council and the university should put aside their differences, sit round a table and be prepared to compromise in the long-term interests of the community as a whole.
Jim Cumming.14 Lumsden Crescent,St Andrews.
Trying too hard to please all
Sir, – David Cameron seems hell-bent on destroying his own and his party’s chances at the next General Election. His policies seem to have no rhyme or reason, no firm purpose and are simply a random series of disconnected initiatives. He is trying to please everybody and is in danger of pleasing nobody.
The two mistakes which will bring about his downfall, however, were not fulfilling his promise to hold a referendum on the EU and forgetting who were his main support the core Conservative voters.
Traditionally, Conservatives have strengthened the armed forces and the police, come down hard on offenders and trimmed bureaucracy to a minimum. He has done none of these things.
I and many Tories of my acquaintance are fast becoming so disillusioned we could well vote for UKIP in the next election or abstain from voting altogether, thus ensuring the return of a Labour government with little prospect of the electorate ever giving the Conservatives another chance.
George K McMillan.5 Mount Tabor Avenue,Perth.
Asking for clear commitment
Sir, – As the representative organisation for Scotland’s mountaineers and hill walkers we were interested to see Energy and Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing’s response to research suggesting that visitors don’t mind windfarms.
We hope he is right the views of our 11,000 members suggest the situation is more complex.
The issue is not of ”yes” or ”no” to turbines, it is about their scale, their location and their impact on the cherished landscapes which are fundamental to Scotland’s heritage, identity and tourist appeal.
VisitScotland surveys consistently show that people come to this country for its landscapes. For some groups, like mountaineers and hill walkers, this is the prime attraction. Large turbines, in great numbers and poorly located, can industrialise landscapes that are valued for their emptiness and wildness.
Unfortunately, while many of Scotland’s planning policies give good theoretical protection to our countryside, the approach is piecemeal and too open to subjective interpretation.
We ask the Scottish Government to make a clear commitment that no wind turbines (except for community use) should be permitted to encroach upon, or affect the visual amenity of, our highest peaks the Corbetts and Munros.
These are the jewels in our national crown.
Imaginative measures such as this would mean that Scotland is not only a leader in the use of renewable energy, but that it is ensuring its compatibility with other interests.
David Gibson.Chief Officer,The Mountaineering Council of Scotland.
Serious flaw in this approach
Sir, – Why do we need a second question on the ballot paper in the forthcoming independence referendum?
Former First Minister Henry McLeish now thinks the case for it is ”overwhelming” (Courier, April 24), but there is a serious flaw in this approach.
The second question will presumably relate to enhanced powers beyond the existing devolution settlement. Why are none of the Unionist parties, particularly Labour, putting the case for those enhanced powers now?
They leave themselves open to the charge of opportunism if they wait until the autumn of 2014 to support the argument. The pro-independence forces will gain the ascendancy in the meantime.
Labour could leave itself in an impossible position. It would either have to join with the Conservatives and others in supporting the status quo; or it might sit idly on the sidelines.
Mr McLeish may be sincere in his desire to preserve the Union, but if he wants his party to play a credible role in maintaining it he needs to do two things.
Firstly, urge its leader in Scotland, Johann Lamont, to go beyond support for the Scotland Bill shortly to become an act of parliament. The details of a new ”devo-max” option must be made clear to the public.
Secondly, start campaigning for it in the summer of this year. Voters might be impressed by a positive case for change, rather than a simple reaction when the independence poll is finally called.
Bob Taylor.24 Shiel Court,Glenrothes.
No comparison
Sir, – In his letter (March 4) Eric Swinney from Louisiana compares Scotland’s Highland landscapes with the likes of Arkansas when he cites this US state as a home to ”massive windfarms”.
I have to ask if he has ever seen how our countryside is being infested?
To my mind the equivalent desecration in the USA would be for turbines to be erected in the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore or Yosemite.
How many wind turbines are there?
G M Lindsay.Whinfield Gardens,Kinross.
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.