Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, I cannot adequately express my anger at the performance of (Fife Council’s) education and children’s services committee in relation to the replacement of Madras College.
The breakdown in communication between Fife Council and St Andrews University was a blow to all of us who were expecting, finally, to have a wonderful new school.
It therefore defies logic that the committee should take only 41 days to reach a decision that previously had taken the best part of eight years.
On November 9 the committee decided to choose the option to rebuild at Kilrymont. It is the wrong decision.
I do not believe the committee gave enough consideration to the wishes of the people of North East Fife.
A petition organised by the ”New build not Rebuild” campaign group raised 2,000 signatures. This should have signalled to Fife Council that the community in this area want a new school.
The overwhelming feeling at each of the public ”consultation” meetings was that a rebuild at Kilrymont was what we, as a community, did NOT want.
The nightmare scenario of decanting all first- to third-year pupils to portable cabins at the back of the South Street building will certainly have a negative impact on their education, and for how long? I would imagine HMIE might have an opinion on this.
The people of our area feel ignored and betrayed by a group of elected representatives whose role is to work for the people and not for their own self-serving ends. When the councillors who made this decision are long gone this area will be left with the legacy of their egos.
I am particularly enraged by the patronising rallying call by council leaders to ”get behind the project” as reported in the Courier on November 12. My response to this is: Fife Council leaders, know that you have a fight on your hands.
Lisa Williams.82 Crosshill Terrace,Wormit.
Labour knew but did nothing
Sir, The helpful timeline you published on Friday confirms that Fife Council’s very first administration, led by Labour’s Alex Rowley, was well aware of the shortcomings of Madras College, including the deteriorating state of the buildings and the detrimental effects of the split site. However they chose to do nothing to remedy the situation.
Subsequent Labour administrations likewise refused to take any action, with one education spokesperson memorably declaring that only over his dead body would a new secondary school be built in North East Fife.
However, even Labour could not ignore the HMIE report which stated the buildings were unsatisfactory and eventually they concluded Madras College should become a single-site school at Kilrymont.
The present Fife Council has just decided that the new Madras College should be developed at Kilrymont. So what on earth is Alex Rowley complaining about?
It is disappointing the venture with St Andrews University has come to nothing, but it should be remembered it was the university which pulled out, and Fife Council should not be faulted for trying.
Notwithstanding this, the present Liberal-Democrat/SNP administration of Fife Council is now taking significant steps to make a new secondary school for the St Andrews area a reality.
Jane Ann Liston, NE Fife Lib Dems.5 Whitehill Terrace,St Andrews.
Time to focus on the detail
Sir, How can the unsettling speculation about the date and responsibility for an independence referendum be brought to an end (Courier Political Diary, November 12)?
In the next few weeks civil servants and ministers on both sides of the border should start talks about when it should be held.
A suitable date would be Thursday November 28 2013 two days before St Andrews Day that year. This would be into the second half of the current Holyrood term, thus meeting First Minister Alex Salmond’s promise to the voters at the election last May.
In return, Mr Salmond should concede the future of the constitution is a matter reserved to Westminster.
The truth is that the government in Edinburgh could hold only an advisory referendum which of necessity would have to be followed by negotiations on national debt, military bases, tax, pensions, welfare and citizenship.
Can’t civil servants start working on these details now? They could produce a document which outlines the terms on which independence could be granted.
No doubt there would be arguments. All the more reason they should be overseen by an impartial body.
This could pave the way for a referendum based on the following question:
‘The details of the terms on which Scotland could be granted independence have been outlined in Document XYZ. Do you agree that Scotland should become an independent state?’
Bob Taylor.24 Shiel Court,Glenrothes.
So impressed by PRI staff
Sir, It is popular to criticise the NHS but I feel compelled to redress the balance.
Last week I was admitted to Perth Royal Infirmary for a whole knee replacement. It was carried out successfully and I am now on the road to recovery. During my stay staff were superb and the quality of care could not have been better.
You really felt all, including surgeons, doctors, nursing staff, caring staff and even the ”physio-terrorists” were there just to give you a successful outcome to your stay.
A massive thanks to them all.
David Dawson.Ar Dachaidh,Blairgowrie.
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.