Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – The article in Monday’s Courier entitled Boost for Rail Link Campaign states a public consultation on the recent feasibility study commissioned by the St Andrews Rail Link campaign organisers is now under way.
Based on Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG), it is important for individuals and organisations to note that an appraisal of all transport options, not just rail, must be carried out as part of any consultancy.
With this in mind, I was pleased to recall the Courier article entitled Stagecoach Unveils its New Green Machines (July 4) reporting that a fleet of eco-friendly hybrid-electric buses was being unveiled by Stagecoach, backed by the Scottish Government Green Bus Fund.
Being eco-friendly, buses of this type would be ideal transportation for the out-of-town and Bridgehead area Madras pupils, as well as maintaining the existing highly efficient bus services connecting St Andrews, Leuchars Station, the Bridgehead areas and Dundee.
Being more economical, ecological and user-friendly, these buses must surely represent the preferred option to address the transport requirements of St Andrews and the locality, as opposed to a costly and impractical rail link into St Andrews.
For rail users, some improvement to the platform access and car parking facilities at Leuchars Station would be desirable and this is entirely feasible with the land availabile at that location.
Allan Chalmers,Links Crescent,St Andrews.
Put Pitlochry first
Sir, – In yesterday’s Courier there was an artist’s impression of the proposed development for the centre of Pitlochry, which will, in its present form, destroy the character of this lovely town and its economic viability as a popular tourist destination.
The majority of the town has been fighting Uplands Developments for nearly four years to stop it from imposing its unimaginative and insensitive designs on the town.
We now appeal to the Perth and Kinross planners, who will make the decision, to take account of local opinion and turn down this application. Pitlochry deserves better than these third-rate plans.
Everyone agrees that some sort of development is needed on this site but it should enhance the centre of Pitlochry and not destroy its character.
Perth and Kinross Council will be going directly against its own extensive policy document for conservation areas if it gives these plans the go-ahead.
Planners, you have a heavy responsibility towards present and future inhabitants of Pitlochry and to its visitors. Do not let us down.
Kate and Roger West,Croftinloan,Pitlochry.
A costly way of saving money
Sir, – The application forms are now out for the appointment of a chief constable for the new Police Service of Scotland on a salary of £208,100 a year, while a new quango will also be formed with members being paid £36,000 a year for working only 10 days a month. So much for the suggestion that the National Police force will save money.
It is interesting to note that the application forms for the top job show that candidates will be asked to show whether they consider themselves ”Scottish” or ”British”.
I hope they submit the right answer, unlike a friend of mine several decades ago who applied for a position in Lanarkshire and the first question was: ”What did you think of the team on Saturday?” He replied that had no interest in the sport, at which point the interview was terminated.
John McDonald,Rosebery Court,Kirkcaldy.
Guns don’t kill people
Sir, – In reply to Mr McDonald’s letter on Tuesday, and having lived in the USA for 30-odd years, I must say he is way off base.
What does he expect the US Government to do? Today, we are left with a legacy of gun ownership that sees 300 million guns legally registered. If the government banned guns today and offered an amnesty to gun owners, who would not show up? The bad guys.
It is a shame that no-one in that cinema was carrying a gun. Perhaps it could have stopped the atrocity.
Mr McDonald wants the government to do something. The government does not control crazies.
Does he not remember Dunblane or Norway? Both Scotland and Norway have strict gun controls.
Guns don’t kill people, people do.
Eric Swinney,Creekwood Drive,Lafayette, Louisiana,USA.
Yet more tall turbines tales
Sir, – Once again (Letters, Tuesday) we have a representative of the renewables industry, Jenny Hogan of Scottish Renewables, perpetuating a number of standard myths associated with wind turbines.
For a start, wind turbines do not ”increase our energy security”, but do the opposite. Neither do they have any meaningful role in ”reducing our carbon emissions”, as recent studies have shown. And the claim they are ”supporting thousands of Scottish jobs” is a nonsense every large-scale turbine, and many of their structural components, are manufactured abroad.
Supporting thousands of jobs, yes, but not for Scots.
GM 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.