Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – I was intrigued to learn from The Courier (March 31) about the ‘Commendation for Fair Maid’s House restoration’ and that ”The Fair Maid’s House development is part of a wider strategy by Perth and Kinross Council to find new purpose for old buildings and … is an important precedent for future developments in the town.”
Does this mean that the council has now abandoned its resolute determination, in the face of fierce public opposition, to demolish the Perth City Hall at a financial cost of some £4.5 million and at an incalculable cost in terms of noise, dirt, disturbance and financial prejudice to central area businesses and residents over a period of three or more years?
I think we should be told, prior to our voting in the local authority elections on May 3.
And, while on the subject of the City Hall, you report on March 24 that council leaders, supported by VisitScotland, have accorded a high priority to relocation of the Perth visitor centre from the present inadequate premises at Lower City Mills to a larger and more prominent site, but have to take into account the substantial costs of setting up and operating a standalone establishment for this purpose.
But the ideal home for a full-scale tourist shop and information centre is readily available, as planned by the architects Simpson and Brown on behalf of the Perth City Market Trust, to be accommodated within the spacious lobby of the City Hall, through which the main pedestrian route will pass in and out of the new City Market Hall. That is the grandest location imaginable. Furthermore, it will be designed and constructed at no charge to the council and leased at a nominal rent, as part of the deal for the whole building.
Surely not even this discredited council can ignore both its own declared policy ”to find new purpose for old buildings” and an offer to provide, at no capital cost to the council and at a nominal rent, a prestigious central location for such an important feature.
J E D Cormie. 4 Craiglea Road, Perth.
Being a legend not enough to save Kenny
Sir, – While I appreciate what he was saying on the Kenny Dalglish situation at Liverpool I’m afraid Jim Leishman, in his Wednesday column, was well out of date with his conclusions. Yes, Dalglish is an Anfield legend, as well as an obvious hero to Jim, but that has nothing to do with his future.
Jim is echoing the way it was local businessmen forming the board of directors of a club, cosily raking in an income and living within their means as far as wages and signing of players was concerned. They generally competed well and were happy for the odd success in various competitions, selling regularly to survive.
In top level football today the major clubs, Manchester United and City, Chelsea, Arsenal and the like are owned by oil billionaires, corporate institutions with money to burn and the like and they don’t give a toss how much of a legend a manager is, they want only success, or out goes the man in charge of the team.
I only need to single out Abramovich at Chelsea to prove my point he even gets rid of managers who are successful in the search for a successor who is even more so.
Yes Kenny is a legend on Merseyside well the red half of it anyway and yes he could win two cups this year. But will that be enough to satisfy men who have permitted the spending, for example, of £30 million on a striker in Andy Carroll who has yet to prove himself with Liverpool?
I very much doubt it.
Ian Wheeler. Springfield, Fife.
Bodies being hypocritical
Sir, – I refer to the article on page 15 of last Thursday’s Courier. The RSPB and SSPCA have been vehement in their condemnation of a gamekeeper who had inadvertently trapped an owl in a disused trap which he had disabled in a manner used by his profession for many years.
These associations are being hypocritical about his actions when in fact they, in introducing sea eagles into our skies, are responsible for the deaths of farm animals such as newborn lambs and domesticated fowl as well as attacks on persons who attempt to protect their stock.
It is they who have put the livelihoods of some crofters and farmers at stake and yet they deny this in the face of eyewitness evidence.
Who are the villains here? A gamekeeper who accidentally traps an owl or those who release a flying barn door into an alien environment?
Ken Dickson.Collace Crescent,Dundee.
NHS care was first class
Sir, – We continually read in the press letters of complaint about the NHS but seldom any of praise or gratitude. It may not be perfect, but having had experience of medical services around the world, I thank God for our NHS and its dedicated medical staff.
In October 2011 my wife, aged 75, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She died at home on January 2.
The service and support she received from the hospital staff and Macmillan nurses at Ninewells was first class.
The home care and attention we received over Christmas and New Year from our GPs, out-of-hours doctors, Marie Curie nurses and especially from our local Balmullo and St Andrews-based district nurses could not have been better.
In the case of our district nurses I would say beyond the call of duty.
I and my family are very grateful to all of them.
James Macnab of Macnab.Leuchars.
Who checks on the ‘snoopers’?
Sir, – The government proposes to monitor calls, e-mails and text and website visits. The Prime Minister insists this would not be a ‘snoopers’ charter’ but merely to keep track of serious crime and terrorism. If such is the case, why publicise the action and who will supervise the ‘snoopers’?
John McDonald.14 Rosebery Court,Kirkcaldy.
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.