Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Your recent piece about Scotland having to re-apply to join the European Union isn’t quite what it appears.
For starters, the letter from the Commission is still in draft and has not yet been sent to the House of Lords as reported.
Then there’s the assumption that it’s gospel; so let’s check that out.
1. The UK is a member of the European Union.2. If the UK divides,there is no more UK.3. If Scotland is no longer a member of the European Union neither is the rump which cannot be called the UK.
Ergo, England, Wales and N Ireland are no longer members and will have to follow the same procedures as Scotland. Now, who believes all this will happen?
I repeat, the UK is the member. If it no longer exists, then either all its constituent parts have left Europe or none of them has.
We can’t have some parts more favoured than others unless you believe Westminster.
Ian Gilbert.16 Robertson Crescent,Pitlochry.
Heath signed us up to it
Sir, – Peter Bell (December 6) asks how we can stop the theft of Scottish fish by the EU. Well, its not actually theft as Edward Heath signed up to the EU Common Fisheries Policy.
Our politicians in the 1970s offered this as an incentive to being allowed to join the then Common Market.
The CFP has proved inefficient, wasteful, and destructive to our fishing industry.
The answer is to withdraw the UK from the EU, which seems increasingly likely if the present crop of politicians ever get around to fulfilling their promised referendum on our EU membership.
Only Alex Salmond seems determined to join Scotland to this failed organisation, clutching membership to it like a drowning man.
Then Scotland’s fisheries will forever remain EU property.
George Cormack.UK Independence Party,McLauchlan Rise,Aberdour.
Dangerous buildings
Sir, – Your recent report about crumbling and dangerous buildings in Perth described the more and more frequent appearance on our streets of firemen removing loose masonry and the increase in poorly maintained buildings, with vegetation growing from roofs, gutters and wall cracks.
The council’s building standards manager, Gordon Lindsay, said: “The major concern is the potential danger for serious injury to members of the public.”
He said it was the responsibility of private owners to ensure their properties were maintained to a safe and proper standard, that the council “would urge building owners” to do the necessary maintenance work and is “recommending” people sharing multi-owned property to “get together to agree a maintenance programme”.
Our younger daughter once lived in a flat under similar circumstances and told us of the problems with one flat-owner who repeatedly refused to co-operate on maintenance. “Urging” and “recommending” action are all very well, but there must be an iron fist in the velvet glove.
The council should have powers either to force owners to maintain their buildings properly or to do the necessary work for them and bill them for it.
If Perth and Kinross Council already has such powers, it seems singularly unwilling to use them.
Judging by the state not only of private property in Perth city centre, but also of council-owned buildings, the council waits until large chunks drop off before doing anything.
I just hope the authorities do not delay action until some tragedy occurs, such as the waitress killed by falling masonry on Edinburgh’s Princes Street a few years back.
George K McMillan.5 Mount Tabor Avenue,Perth.
Time to reap the benefits
Sir, – Now that the trams are finally being allowed out on to the tracks between the depot and Edinburgh Airport for driver training, isn’t it time that the people of Edinburgh (not to mention the rest of Scotland who have helped us to pay for them) should get a chance to sample their benefits?
It would do much to reduce diesel pollution if, in future, the 100 service airport bus terminated at Maybury thus allowing passengers to decamp and continue by clean electric traction to the airport.
John Eoin Douglas.7 Spey Terrace,Edinburgh.
Very localised high winds
Sir, – If the Christmas lights in South Methven Street, Perth, were damaged by high winds in 2011, why were these winds apparently confined to South Methven Street?
Bob Nesbitt.162b Crieff Road,Perth.
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.