Sir, Waid Academy, government-funded through Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), will establish “a community hub . . . innovative, inspirational design for all communities in the East Neuk . . . ground-breaking collaborative project, the first of its kind in Fife”.
Levenmouth School, funded 100% through SFT, plans “a revolutionary kind of education with further education opportunities unavailable anywhere else in Fife”, with sports fields and Fife College’s Campus on-site.
“To just plonk a school down for S1 – S6 is old hat now!” (Councillor Poole).
Could Craig Munro, education director, confirm whether Madras College has such funding secured?
It also “holds a special place at the heart” of St Andrews/NE Fife, exceeding Waid’s “very long history” by 53 years and school roll by 60%, and self-evidently would benefit throughout this century from co-location on the university’s North-Haugh campus opposite Station Park’s sports fields.
But, with £77 million savings needed, the council intends “to just plonk” Madras down overdue, over budget, with unnecessary costs eroding educational/sporting content on Pipeland’s isolated, unsuitable, expensive farmland, despite numerous flaws highlighted ad infinitum since January 2013.
Is Madras College Fife’s poor relation?
Is government funding unlikely as ministers have developed serious doubts, since not calling in the plans in May, about Pipeland’s fitness for Madras’s purpose? Perish the thought!
John Birkett. 12 Horseleys Park, St Andrews.
A good sound bite, but where is the evidence?
Sir, I was interested to read that Lord Darzi has suggested banning smoking in public parks in London because it will save lives and reduce the chance of children taking up smoking.
Lord Darzi is an academic and I am sure he supports the use of evidence to base advice on. Where is the evidence that banning smoking in public parks will achieve either of his stated aims?
Please, Lord Darzi, show us the evidence and do not come up with suggestions which make a good sound bite and appear very noble, but which have no data to support them.
Derek Byrne. Teach na Cluana, Flocklones Hamlet. Invergowrie.
Sea level rise damage will be worldwide
Sir, Melting polar and glacial ice and thermally expanding ocean water have accelerated sea level rise to the highest rate in at least 6,000 years according to a new study.
Using indicators of the era’s sea level, like location of ancient tree roots and molluscs, the scientists’ reconstruction found no evidence that sea levels fluctuated by more than about eight inches during the relatively stable period that lasted between 6,000 and about 150 years ago.
Then, since the onset of the industrial revolution, sea levels have already risen by about that same amount. The scientists attribute climate change and rising temperatures that cause polar and glacial ice to melt and thermal expansion of the oceans as the primary cause for the rapid and extremely unusual increase in sea level.
Sea level rise will cause major damage and displacement along coastlines throughout the world. One recent study found that major US cities along the coast will see 10 times more flooding by mid-century.
Alan Hinnrichs. 2 Gillespie Terrace, Dundee.
Quality is more important than quantity
Sir, In six months’ time, no doubt, the general election campaign will dominate our television screens.
Already the wrangling has started over live debates and impartiality (Courier, October 15).
The recent referendum campaign in Scotland should have taught us one thing. It is that quality is more important than quantity.
Some of the debates only served to discredit politicians on either side of the divide. A good example was the set-to between Dennis Canavan and Jim Murphy on the BBC Scotland News on the eve of poll on September 17.
It quickly became a shouting match with no effort made on either side to produce a coherent argument.
By contrast on the Tuesday before the poll the BBC carried an hour-long programme where David Dimbleby interviewed Gordon Brown and then Alex Salmond for half an hour each.
When that broadcast ended I was able to make up my mind how I was voting. It was a mature, sensible encounter highlighting the real differences between the two sides.
Perhaps more interviews of that kind irrespective of who is involved might serve the voters better than some of the rammies we had to endure through August and September.
Bob Taylor. 24 Shiel Court, Glenrothes.
Indicating we only have one pair of hands!
Sir, I would like to add my observations with regard to John McDonald’s letter (October 14), about motorists failing to indicate.
Humans have only one pair of hands so when driving, one is firmly grasping the steering wheel whilst the spare hand is fully involved with either changing or tuning in radio stations, holding a mobile phone to one’s ear, or busy texting, which makes the use of indicators impossible and highly dangerous.
My proposed solution is to take all the responsibility for indicating intended movements away from the motorist and insist that all car manufacturers be forced to fit crystal balls to enable us confused drivers to be forewarned of other motorists’ intentions.
Ron Blanchard. 177 Kinghorn Road, Burntisland.
Not a good move by Post Office
Sir, As a regular user of the Post Office in Kirriemuir I would have thought there must be a better option to the proposed move of the present Post Office premises to the Paper and Toy etc, shop on the Square.
At best it is a fairly pokey place and although suited to its present function, I very much doubt the sanity of such a move come the busier times in another couple of months or so.
I envisage queues back into the Square proper and with no parking available or probably only space for two or three cars at most chaos will reign.
There is space for two cars outside the shop but I once parked in one of them assuming that as it was re-surfaced with cobbles at the same time as the road was done by the council and that it was for use by the public.
However, I was informed by the shop owner that it was his private space.
If this is not already a “done deal” I think that we should make our feelings known for better premises, more in keeping with the town’s requirements.
J R Smith. Morar, 44 Glamis Road, Kirriemuir.