This morning our correspondents discuss Dundee’s mail chaos, Perth’s Connect2 bridge, icy pavements and car parks, moving British troops from Germany to the UK, and the policing of aggressive protests.
Management to blame for Dundee mail chaos Sir, I received a Christmas card last week from an aunt in Edzell, clearly date stamped Cardiff – 18.11.10. One cannot help but wonder why it was ever in Cardiff and why it took all that time to travel 40 miles.
Another scenario that has focused my mind was that four parcels were sent on December 7 from Guernsey, one to me at a cost of £6.21. I have no idea of the cost of the others, but think it fair to assume they were at least the same, if not more.
One parcel was delivered in Broughty Ferry within a few days, despite the delivery problems at Dundee East, another was delivered in Tayport on December 18 and the other two one in Tayport, one in Wormit were delivered on December 21. Where were they separated and why?
Regarding the problems at Dundee East, if you ignore the weather, it is obvious that there is a breakdown between management and posties because of the new delivery system, which suggests that management must listen to their staff, understand the problems and take action to sort out the backlog.
Royal Mail management must face up the realities of delivering mail and ensure their posties are included in discussions about new delivery arrangements, as it is they who know best about what is, and is not, sensible on each delivery route.
Ruth Gordon.6 Reform Street,Tayport.
End of road for Perth bridge?
Sir, I, together with very many citizens of Perth and other concerned parties, are relieved that Capability Scotland has withdrawn their crucial support for Perth’s proposed Connect2 pedestrian and cycle bridge.
Perth and Kinross Council, as you reported, stated that they have written to Capability Scotland urging that their decision be reconsidered, but most would consider that this is extremely unlikely. We can only hope that this will be the case.
Bill Fairweather.10 Fairhill View,Perth.
Put safety before profit
Sir, As the smug and self-satisfied in local and national government claim that they did a good job in getting roads cleared after our recent snowstorms, let the ordinary person, going to work or shopping or generally needing to be out and about, make sure they don’t allow failure in other directions to be forgotten.
These include icy or snowbound pavements which were still dangerous to walk on weeks after the original blizzards piled up mini-mountains of snow on roadsides proving insurmountable for weeks, municipal car parks nearly impossible to use because of uncleared rock-hard snow and ice. And what of supermarket car parks?
The firms who control them consistently make huge profits, yet there are reports of customers parking on similar uncleared rock-hard snow and ice.
Surely it is not too much to ask that these supermarket car parks be cleared, even if it costs a small fraction of profits, so that customers do not take their life in their hands when buying essentials.
Ian Wheeler.Springfield,Cupar.
Repatriate UK army of Rhine
Sir, Will UK defence secretary Liam Fox explain the retention of armed forces in Germany so long after the end of the Cold War?
By contrast, the Ministry of Defence has sold off the Machrihanish base near Campbeltown, which was fully equipped with married quarters, runways and surrounded by rugged terrain, ideal for military exercises. Its beaches were also ideal for assault-landing training.
Relocating forces there from Germany would have helped the community and boosted local employment prospects.
In addition, RAF Kinloss is to close and there are now question marks over the futures of RAF Leuchars and Lossiemouth.
Stationing British forces in the UK would also reduce the bill for sending troops home on leave.
Ian I. Carroll.13 Chapelhill Street,Kincardine.
No excuse for aggression
Sir, Alan Hinnrichs berated Christians for “foisting their absurd beliefs on the unwilling,” for example by “frightening children.”
I note that following the demonstrations against tuition fees in London during early December, Mr Hinnrichs could only criticise the police response, while it seems self-evident that a significant number of the protesters were the aggressors and intent on using violence and damage to property to achieve their ends.
Of course, it is unfortunate that innocent people are inconvenienced or worse by the police response, aspects of which are no doubt excessive but how precisely should they deal with these things?
Clearly, if they had just allowed the demonstrators to do as they pleased, then large areas of central London would have been trashed and looted, not to mention the question of physical violence.
Perhaps Mr Hinnrichs would view things differently if a baying mob of religious fundamentalists turned up at his front door attempting to “foist their absurd beliefs” on him by threatening violence and damage to his home.
How would he expect police to react in such circumstances?
Stuart Winton.Hilltown,Dundee.
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.