Saturday’s correspondents discuss matters of the day, from the Forth crossing’s name to potholes in Angus, and from despotism in Egypt to expansion in St Andrews.
Offensive attempt to halt expansion
Sir, I read with astonishment the letter from J. A. Peterson of St Andrews (February 16) who fully supports the possible closure of RAF Leuchars.
He refers to this as “economic sense” and that local businesses would only experience a “temporary blip”.
Sorry, economic sense for who?
Mr Peterson goes on to detail his real agenda which is to quell the expansion and development of the western edge of St Andrews to provide much-needed affordable housing to a town so caught up in its own World Heritage Site importance it has pickled itself for eternity in aspic. St Andrews will never be given the opportunity to develop and progress naturally.
Mr Peterson refers to the provision of rented family and singles accommodation in this area, that is, Leuchars and north-east Fife. What does he mean by singles? Does he mean genteel spinster ladies of a nervous disposition or does her refer to unmarried mothers?
The many, and primarily lowly remunerated, people who service St Andrews cannot afford to live in the town and travel for many miles to get there to work, yet Mr Peterson seems to think it acceptable to entomb these workers in a former military camp in Leuchars so as to halt the natural development of his beloved fairytale town.
Ian Milne.Craigiebarn Road,Dundee.Democratic threat to WestSir, Your correspondent James Smith’s call for democracy for Egyptians sits oddly with his implied defence of the oft-proclaimed Arab and Islamist threat to destroy Israel.
Many of those who protested in Egypt reject democracy as being man-made the reason why past rallies against despots have never resulted in democracy in the Middle East.
Mubarak was a despot. For us, the choice was not between democracy and despotism but between differing despots.
Better the despot who does not threaten our oil. Better the despot at peace with Israel than one trying to destroy it to free up Islamists to focus elsewhere.
Democracy in Egypt could give Egyptians, and us, something much worse than Mubarak.
In Germany, democracy gave us Hitler and his Nazis, many of whom ended up in Egypt working for the Egyptian Government’s anti-Jewish departments.
Most likely, the Egyptian military will continue to run Egypt as a secular state, keep its peace treaty with Israel and help keep our oil supplies secure.
Andrew Lawson.9 MacLaren Gardens,Dundee.Fifth bridge is right choiceSir, With reference to your debate on naming the new Forth crossing, this should clearly be called the Fifth Bridge.
If railway crossings are not included, this is precisely what it is, counting downstream from the Old Stirling Bridge.
Chronologically it is, of course, the Sixth Bridge but this does not trip so readily from the tongue.
Stephen Younger.43a Main Street,Strathkinness.Neglect of Angus roadsSir, The debate about proposed changes to the car park at Lunan Bay has been both entertaining and fascinating but can I make a plea to our elected members to turn their attention to the state of the roads in Angus.
Although winter is not yet over, it is now some weeks since the bad weather abated and still no sign of any attempt to deal with the numerous dangerous potholes in the roads.
If this state of affairs is allowed to continue, any investment at Lunan Bay will be academic as no one will be able to get there.
Ian Angus.9 Steading Place,Arbroath.We are not all in this togetherSir, The cuts being made are far too drastic over a short period.
If we look at the problem on a micro-economic level, we do not pay off mortgages over four years. We take 25 or 30 years.
If we find ourselves in difficulty, we do not put granny out to fend for herself, or cut down on our family’s nutrition and well being.
Other cuts can be made without putting people’s lives at risk. The Prime Minister’s claim that we are all in this together is false.
I see no reduction in the luxurious living of the Royal Family and how can they justify 750 members of the House of Lords? Can we not struggle along with 100 members, or even none?
And imagine the savings to be made if the royal family managed to struggle along with two or three palaces and, with the exception of the head of state, pay for their own security.
Alister Rankin.93 Whyterose Terrace,Methil.
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