Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – I am constantly amazed by Perth and Kinross Council’s failure to grasp the challenges faced by the retailers in the city centre, a case in point being the debate held on August 12 over free parking.
Who would have thought so many factors had to be taken into consideration? We only want free parking on a Saturday afternoon. It’s one afternoon a week.
Councillor John Kellas raised the following concerns. Free parking would discourage people from using public transport and the park and ride facilities. It would also be detrimental to air quality issues in the centre and that city centre workers would use up the free parking on offer.
I would like to raise a few points.
Surely the mainly empty buses that run along George Street every day, 15-20 minutes apart, contribute more damage to the air quality than some extra cars coming into the city centre on a Saturday afternoon?
Most city centre offices are closed over the weekend. Where does Councillor Kellas think that the people working in the retail sector are going to find the time to leave their work in the middle of the day, move their car and find a free space to park?
It was stated that the council needed time to evaluate the free parking trials carried out in Crieff. Why? That has nothing to do with parking in Perth.
There was also an amendment made to the motion about the cost involved in creating new parking spaces. Having successfully removed all the parking in Tay Street, St John Street, St John’s square and the area where Horsecross now stands, where do they think is left to create these new spaces?
I am sure every retailer in the city centre would agree with me that we need help now, not months down the line.
Councillor Alan Jack stated at the end of the debate, that, whatever their differences, the councillors ” were all singing from the same hymn sheet”. What a pity it’s not the hymn sheet the retailers are singing from.
Laura Wilson.14 Rose Terrace,Perth.
Birds will help attract tourists
Sir, – I am lucky enough to have seen a sea eagle on the wing in east Fife.
I was with friends visiting Balcaskie Estate and noticed a bird on the wing I thought at first was a buzzard but then realised it was much further away, almost at Kellie Law a mile and a half to the north and so a much, much bigger bird.
The magnificent raptor glided with scarcely a movement of its wings and passed about 150 feet above our heads well within range of many of the bird-chomping wind turbines proposed in Fife and beyond.
I have no doubt these glorious birds will have a beneficial impact on tourist numbers which might go some way to replace the visitors put off Scotland by the plethora of windfarm and turbine developments being forced on an unreceptive landscape and unhappy public.
Graham Lang.Westermost,Coaltown of Callange,Ceres.
Best use of resources?
Sir, – In the past, people exhibiting embarrassing or eccentric behaviour, though essentially harmless, could be unlucky enough to be locked up in an asylum for the convenience of society. We regard ourselves as more humane now, but in essence the repeated incarceration of the Naked Rambler amounts to the same thing.
Contrast this with the present furore over Prince Harry and the evident desire to publicise images of a naked man. One is deemed to be offensive; the other isn’t. In reality, a mature reaction to both the Naked Rambler and naked prince should be ”so what?”
It’s time the public queried the Crown Office’s criteria for deciding these serial prosecutions are in their interest and whether it is a good use of resources.
R Wallace.Standalane,Kincardine.
Sport ““ turn clock back
Sir, – In the post-Olympic agenda, more and more people want better access to sporting facilities nationwide.
It all starts in the home where active parents encourage their young ones to follow their lead. Then on to school where far more emphasis should be placed on a wide variety of sporting activities. This should include competitive sports too.
Back in the 1960s, when I started teaching, it was common practice for many teachers to coach football , rugby or hockey teams and accompany them to their matches on Saturday mornings.
Turning the clock back will not be easy, but it has to happen if we want to get the ball rolling.
Bob Smart.55 Bellevue Gardens,Arbroath.
A litany of intolerance
Sir, – I agree with Dr Waiton’s assertion the Scottish Defence League have a right to demonstrate, peacefully, that they may represent their views.
The objections raised by Messrs Stott and Scott (Letters, August 22) are no more than a litany of intolerance towards a political organisation on the opposite side of the spectrum.
Of course, the far left usually turns up to protest at such a demonstration, quoting the usual anti-fascist jibes.
They conveniently forget the excesses of the left over the previous decades.
A T Geddie.68 Carleton Avenue,Glenrothes.
So-called friend
Sir, – In some eyes, the conduct of Prince Harry may have been wrong, but he was on a private holiday with friends and the picture was taken in his private suite at a hotel.
The person in the wrong was the so-called friend, who took the photograph to send to a newspaper for £10,000.
John McDonald.14 Rosebery Court,Kirkcaldy.
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.