On this first day of the new month, Courier readers debate mobile breast screening, political intolerance, the biomass plant plan for Dundee, soaring housing costs and election campaign leaflets.
NHS outreach designed to aid patients Sir,-I have to comment on your article (April 28) ‘Outrage over breast screening in car park’.
I cannot believe that the reader would be outraged to be asked to go for free breast screening at an area where she would probably not need to spend money on petrol or bus fares to get there and would certainly not be charged a parking fee once there.
I think the NHS is an excellent service and appears to be trying to ease the burden of getting to Ninewells by having these outside clinics.
Well done NHS. Keep up the good work.
Anne H. F. Lowe.13 Nelson Street,Tayport.
Political intolerance?
Sir,-Gordon Brown referred (April 28) to Gillian Duffy, a Labour supporter until now, as a bigot.
This made me want to check my dictionary to see what it said. It described a bigot as a person who is intolerant of any idea other than his own, especially on religion, politics or race.
On reflection, bigot would be a fair description of our unelected Prime Minister who has little time for any member of the public who does not agree with him.
David Reoch.39 Gourlay Street,Kirkcaldy.
Reject plan for biomass
Sir,-I am in absolute agreement with J. J. Marshall — Easy to see which way wind’s blowing — (April 28).
As someone who has suffered sewage smells for nine years, the very thought of installing an incinerator belching smells and ships discharging sewage at Dundee’s waterfront fills me with dread for the people who live there.
The powers that be will promise that there will be no smells, just like they told the residents before the multi-million pound state-of-the-art sewage plant was built beside our harbour area here in Kirkcaldy.
Don’t believe a word they say. Funny how politicians and their ilk avoid answering questions where they might have to tell the truth.
I am an SNP supporter but will change my mind about them if this outrageous scheme goes ahead.
Why can foreign sewage not be dealt with in the country of its origin?
We lived overseas for nearly 40 years, yet in places like Cairo, with a population in excess of 20 million, one smell we never got was sewage.
When I put that to someone from Scottish Water some years ago, he had the audacity to tell me the sewage was probably dumped in the Sahara.
One final question to the SNP.
Why should Dundee be afflicted with someone else’s raw sewage?
Norma Rutherford.East Lodge,Mid Street,Kirkcaldy.
Explain soaring housing costs
Sir,-I read with much interest the letter from Jonathan Fair, chief executive of Homes For Scotland (April 26).
This organisation might easily be confused with a housing association but it is not. Homes For Scotland represents housebuilders and construction companies in Scotland.
Mr Fair’s letter is headed ‘Priced out of housing market’ and he offers the explanation for this as the availability of mortgages and high deposits.
He is right to say that governments can order change in lending practices.
Actually, where there’s a will, governments can order almost anything.
What he does not mention is that in 1975 the average family home was three times the average annual salary and now it is nine times annual salary.
That is, a house is three times as expensive, in real terms, as it was 35 years ago.
Can he explain this? What is the reason for this? Surely his members have something to do with this.
K. J. MacDougall.3 Logie Avenue,Dundee.
Cut down on election paper
Sir,-Although I have to confess to being responsible for delivering some of them, the innumerable pamphlets and election literature we get through our letterboxes mostly go straight into the recycle bin.
What happens to the green agenda at election time? We are faced with a frenzy of activity, where a relatively small number of volunteers go round the houses and knock on front doors during Coronation Street or the football.
And for what? To propel into parliament one man or woman to represent us in that remote chamber, whose powers are limited and whose reputation is tarnished to the point where it will take decades to recover from the disgrace brought upon it by the behaviour of a large number of members.
I hope that the new MPs can resist the blandishments of power but I doubt it.
And I hope that the parties will get together, as in some elections in Germany, and put together one leaflet per candidate to be sent to householders and leave them to make up their mind.
Donald Macgregor.15 Kinkell Terrace, St Andrews.