Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – I still feel that the waterfront project is really going to make a big difference to Dundee, but I do have one grumble concerning the ongoing work.
I read with great interest an article from the manager of the project in which he said there had not been many complaints about hold-ups or any other problems people were having while driving in the centre of Dundee.
I would have expected that to be the case as, firstly, we were all warned about the works and, secondly, we all know and realise that eventually it is going to improve the ring road system in Dundee.
My objection concerns the bottleneck at the railway station. There, people are trying to cut in front of a queue of traffic which has been sitting and waiting patiently.
I just refuse to let these very selfish drivers go in front of me and I have even had people toot their horn at me.
I notice today there were another two signs to warn people of the lane closure but still people were ignoring them.
In larger sets of roadworks I have seen “merge in turn “signs, but really all that this situation requires is for people to have a bit more consideration and simply show some good manners.
Or if they are in such an incredible hurry and simply can’t wait they should consider finding and using an alternative route.
Alice Lowes.28 Rossie Avenue,Broughty Ferry,Dundee.
Not surprising that contracts went abroad
Sir, – Reference the publicity about the tendering of contracts for the new Forth crossing, it should be borne in mind that for contracts tendered within the UK it has been said that the cost represents 80% wages and salaries and 20% the rest, (materials, transport etc).
Given the tight budgetary restraints (which may not be met) imposed upon the builders, it is not surprising contracts have been awarded to China, Spain and Poland. (In the last named, I am told that the EU-approved minimum wage is £1 per hour).
There are lessons there for us all the disparity within the EU states, how to win contracts, levels of income which enable prosperity, and the desirability of a recognisable work ethic, (whether freely applied, or not).
A. T. Geddie.68 Carleton Avenue,Glenrothes.
Ignoring own advice
Sir, – The Courier report, February 2, of the three-house plan for a rural area in Fife, if correct, once again illustrates the incomprehensible behaviour of the North East Fife Planning Committee.
Hiding under the petticoat of so-called democracy, certain councillors feel empowered to overrule Fife Council’s policy on housing in the countryside as well as ignoring their legal obligations under planning regulations.
The council’s plan concerning housing in the countryside was drawn up and approved after a great deal of effort and expense, including public consultation, to protect the countryside from exploitation for the benefit of future generations of Fifers.
The councillors who voted to allow outline planning (PPP) for the housing development proposed for Baldinnie elected to ignore completely the unbiased recommendations of their own hard-working officials, who’s mandate is to properly administer the application of planning regulations as laid down by law, as well as ensuring the council’s own plans are properly applied.
Why should this be? Is it a case of vested interest or perhaps, dare we suggest, party political gerrymandering in an attempt to influence future voting patterns in North East Fife?
Readers can, no doubt, make up their own minds.
Mr & Mrs G. D. Joy.Baldinnie Cottage,Baldinnie, Cupar.
Regime change is the goal
Sir, – Listening to William Hague officiously preach about the crimes of the Syrian regime is rank hypocrisy by another Tory imperialist. Previous Tory and New Labour governments were more than happy to sell the arms to the Bathists now being used in Syria without thought or consequence.
The UK government routinely stays silent when America vetoes any resolution on Israel at the Security Council.
The civilians in Homs are worthy victims. The victims targeted by American drones, Israeli F16s or Western-backed thugs in Libya are not. They are given one line or ten seconds on the news if they are lucky.
The goal of the West is not to stop the slaughter in Syria but regime change. They want a more pliant regime to challenge Iran. Regime change in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya in recent years has been a disaster. One band of cut-throats has been replaced by another.
Russia and China have seen through the ruse and won’t be duped the same way they were with the Libya resolution.
Alan Hinnrichs.2 Gillespie Terrace,Dundee.
We’ve read it all before
Sir, – I sincerely hope that the piece by Barry Phillips is not the forerunner of a year-long load of rubbish about the Royal Family.
We have read it all, there is nothing new, it is all based on gossip.
I have long thought that when some journalists are stuck for a topic they reach for the shelf marked “Royal Family” and extract enough to fill the allocated space by rehashing and composing another boring piece.
Please, no more.
G. Taylor.Backmuir of Liff,Dundee.
These are the questions
Sir, – Surely the questions the independence seekers should be asking are:
“Do you want to live in a country with a national debt in excess of £1 trillion, or a country owing 8% of £1 trillion?”
And: “Do you want 90% of the oil revenues to help pay it off, or a mere 10%?”
Joseph G. Miller.44 Gardeners Street,Dunfermline.
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.