Sir, Whilst having every sympathy with Scott Hastings and his wife and indeed anyone else who has been affected by an accident to a cyclist, I really must put another slant on this question.
I am led to believe, from media reports, that Cycle Law Scotland (CLS) hope to change the law so that if the accident affects a child under 14, or a person over 70, the motorist would have no opportunity to prove that he/she was not to blame but would automatically be held culpable.
I would simply ask the people who hold that view to come and visit us here in the East Neuk of Fife during the summer months when motorists regularly have to take evasive action to avoid coming into close proximity to, or even worse, contact with, small children wobbling along the middle of the road, quite often in crocodile fashion and also quite often going the wrong way along a one-way street.
Their parents seem to believe that as they are on holiday they can safely be allowed out alone when they would never be so allowed at home.
They also seem to think that if the child is wearing a crash helmet then he/she is invincible.
There is also the problem of teenagers and older people riding cycles at speed on the pavements in a cavalier manner to the danger of elderly residents. There have been several incidents.
What would CLS’s view be if an elderly lady was felled by a teenage cyclist on the pavement? Who, then, is to blame?
It has reached the stage where local residents try to avoid driving in our villages during the summer months. Surely this is not fair?
Patricia Rowan. Kirklee Cottage, 66 High Street, Earlsferry.
Local authority help with flood cover?
Sir, It would appear that insurance companies are becoming increasingly reluctant to provide cover for damage by flooding in what they perceive to be “flood risk areas”.
Our property in Aberfeldy is one of many affected by this.
The attitude of the insurers is perhaps understandable given the increase in flooding over recent years, however, the consequences are likely to be very serious, since it will become virtually impossible to sell many affected properties, with some suffering the effects of unrepaired flood damage.
It seems to me that there is a case for local authorities in the affected areas stepping in to fill this need. Apart from anything else, their own tenants, while no doubt being assured of repairs to restore their homes to a habitable condition, may well have no claim for damage to furniture and furnishings.
Should it not be considered that the authorities in areas where normal cover is not available, should offer flood cover alone for an appropriate premium and subject to a fairly modest ceiling of, say, £10,000 or so?
If such cover was widely taken up, as it would be, the ultimate cost to the authority might not be too great.
There would also be a strong case for any shortfall being refunded by the Government.
It might even be that insurers, seeing a substantial tranche of their business going elsewhere, would take a less selfish view of their responsibilities. I feel this is a matter which should be given urgent consideration.
Roger Craik. 9 York Road, Trinity, Edinburgh.
Disappointed with Tattoo
Sir, I sat down to watch the Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the television with nostalgic thoughts of mass bands the skirling of the pipes and the rhythmic pulsing beat of the drums.
My mind turned to the excitement and noise of running soldiers, roaring engines, exploding guns and rifles, but most of all the lingering odour of exhaust fumes mixed with the cordite.
To this day I can see the polished bayonets flashing in the twilight as the rifles of the close order drill company whirled and spun between each of the soldiers.
However this performance appeared to be more akin to an international exhibition of music and movement which might have been directed by the WVS or the health and safety commandos.
Alan Bell. Roods, Kirriemuir.
New bridge no ‘vanity project’
Sir, With regards to Councillor Lewis Simpson’s remarks in The Courier (August 21) about a new road bridge across the Tay being a “vanity project” and telling us that the £20 million council contribution towards the funding of it would be better spent on repairing the roads; is this the same councillor who was hell-bent on the building of a cycle pedestrian bridge a while back? Wasn’t that a “vanity project”?
Thankfully, the council got its sums wrong and everything was cancelled. Pity about the £50,000 spent on the survey and digging up part of the North Inch Golf Course, though.
The car is here to stay. Mr Simpson seems to forget he is an elected councillor who is supposed to put forward what his constituency wants, not the other way around.
JS Alexander. 2 Stormont Way, Scone, Perth.