Today’s correspondents give their opinions on the treatment of students in a time of protests, recent weather and its implications for our services, and culpability for closure-threatened RAF Leuchars.
Sir, Having read the reader’s comment “sheer laziness” (December 10) regarding posties in the Leven area, I felt I had to write to you.
I cannot comment on the Leven area but I live in a rural part of Fife served by Cupar Post Office and, as far as I am aware, we have only missed one day of post here in all the bad weather.
With school buses not running and the local primary permanently closed, this area is sadly forgotten about when it comes to snow clearing and the postmen and woman have had to deal with treacherous roads and walking surfaces.
One young postman had to leave his van to trudge about three miles through more than a foot of snow and ice to deliver to half a dozen houses.
The majority of people in these houses are elderly and the postman can be their only contact at this time.
I am also led to believe that others have been working Sundays to try to make sure local parcels are being delivered.
Having worked doing both milk and roll delivery rounds I appreciate the effort these posties are putting in. So come on folks, when we’re sitting nice and warm with our cup of tea, in a house or office, let’s give credit where credit is due and give a thought to the postie. We’re all good at moaning but not so good at giving praise to those who really do try their best.
D. Wallace.Kemback Bridge,Cupar.Our new-found popularity driveSir, Not many people have criticised my wife’s and my “gas-guzzling” 4×4 recently.
In fact, we have proved to be terrifically popular. We’re a fickle lot us Scots.
Callum Campbell.22 The Paddocks,Grange of Lindores.More action less politickingSir, Recent hold-ups on snow-covered roads are being blamed on articulated lorries jack-knifing. This problem was happening many years ago and was cured by fitting anti jack-knife devices, so why are so many occurring now? After many years of milder winters, are logistic operators saving money by not fitting them, or is there some other reason? And, instead of trying to make political capital out of the present situation of the wintry weather, opposition MSPs might win more votes at the next election by grabbing a shovel and clearing snow from outside the homes of vulnerable constituents.
John Haliburton.21 Bolam Drive,Burntisland.Best of both worldsSir, Like the majority of people in north-east Fife I am very worried about the threat of closure that now hangs over RAF Leuchars.
Closure, or even a reduced role, would have a massive impact on the local economy and I fully support all attempts to prevent this from happening.
There is, however, something contradictory in the attempt by Sir Menzies Campbell to establish for himself a leading role in the anti-closure campaign.
Sir Menzies is a Liberal Democrat and it is a Conservative/Lib-Dem Government that is wielding the axe.
Those who voted Lib-Dem in north-east Fife certainly did not think they were voting for the closure of RAF Leuchars.
Liberal Democrats are past masters at the art of appearing all things to all people. However, Lib-Dems who now seek to distance themselves from the defence cuts of their own government are treating the electorate with contempt.
Alan Reid.Bridgend House, Ceres.Students denied protest rightsSir, Watching the sickening scenes of the Metropolitan Police charging protesting students with horses, I was reminded very much of the actions of Sheriff Bull Connor and his brutality towards peaceful anti-segregationist protesters in Birmingham Alabama in the 1960s.
What was being sent out by the Met was a clear warning to anyone who is thinking of protesting against cuts.
That warning is that they can expect to be kept in a tiny space for hours, denied food, water and toilet facilities and expect to be on the end of a truncheon if they try to leave.
The students had every right to petition their elected representatives of the Liberal Democrat party to honour their election pledge not to raise tuition fees in England. The Met denied them that right.
The students, like the rest of the have-nots in this country, are being told they must pick up the tab for the greed and stupidity of the bankers.
All this happens while the super-rich dodge paying £126 billion in tax. The fight against the Eton-educated Oxbridge elite is only just beginning.
Alan Hinnrichs.2 Gillespie Terrace,Dundee.More local roads control requiredSir, While the former Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has accepted some responsibility for the shambles of the last two weeks, the real culprits are Transport Scotland and BEAR Scotland, established and contracted, respectively, to keep our roads in good condition.
Since the responsibility for maintenance on trunk roads was removed from local authority contract, the performance of these organisations has been less than impressive.
The last two winters have revealed their inability to keep trunk roads and motorways open and now we have had to face another meltdown.
With ever-increasing joint working between authorities, maybe now is the time to return the contracts for our motorways and trunk roads maintenance to these bodies.
At least then we would know who was responsible and hold them to account if they failed.
Colin Young.Meadowland,Dunning.
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.