Sir News that North Lanarkshire Council has reported that the so-called bedroom tax has caused tenants to run up arrears of £675,000 many in arrears for the first time will come as no surprise to everyone in Scotland who wants to see the unfair and destructive “bedroom tax” banished.
It is a policy that asks people on the lowest incomes to pay more money, which they don’t have, or move to smaller homes that, largely, are not there. Some choice!
It is also worrying that struggling householders don’t appear to be applying for the help that is now available to them.
The Scottish Government has committed £20 million this year and next year for local authorities to help householders struggling with their rent as a result of welfare reform, including the “bedroom tax”.
Shelter Scotland encourages everyone struggling as a result of the “bedroom tax” to apply for discretionary housing payments and is urging those who applied and were turned down before this money was made available to reapply.
Financial help like this will buy struggling householders some time to save their home but the only long-term solution is for the UK Government to banish the monstrous “bedroom tax” once and for all.
Graeme Brown. Director, Shelter Scotland, 6 South Charlotte Street, Edinburgh.
MSPs have a chance to aid road users
Sir, New figures from Transport Scotland highlight the dire situation faced by cyclists on Scotland’s roads.
As road casualties fall across the country, we must now ask ourselves why cyclists and other vulnerable road users, like pedestrians, are not enjoying similar improvements in safety and what can be done about it.
On Tuesday MSPs will have a chance to do just this, as they hold a debate on Cycle Law Scotland’s proposals for stricter liability.
Under stricter liability, a motorist involved in a road traffic collision with a cyclist or pedestrian would be presumed liable in a civil law claim against them for damages. If the injured party is under 14, over 70 or disabled, then the driver or cyclist would be deemed liable with an opportunity open to them to establish part-fault. The same would apply in cases where cyclists collide with pedestrians, thereby working to give vulnerable road users the protection they so desperately need but currently lack.
Most countries in Europe operate stricter liability regimes and, when included as part of a package of measures, these have been shown to dramatically improve cyclist safety.
What is clear is that the Scottish Government needs to take urgent action to better protect vulnerable road users before we can fix the tragic situation on our roads.
Brenda Mitchell. Founder, Cycle Law Scotland, Edinburgh.
Does cash go into pothole?
Sir, I have just returned from my yearly trip to Grantown on Spey and it’s quite amazing to see the difference in the condition of the roads all around Morayshire, not a pothole in sight. It’s an absolute pleasure, driving with such ease and comfort.
I’ve always found the roads in excellent condition. Why, then, are our roads in Angus and other areas so very bad? After all, the north has much harsher winters than we do. It does make me wonder where all the road tax money goes.
J. Clark. 19 Dunrossie Terrace, Montrose.
Making the grade vital
Sir, Outrage at coach crossing, reads the headline in Thursday’s Courier. I do not in any way condone the actions of the bus driver involved in the incident at the A90 Laurencekirk junction during the 5pm rush hour.
Having been stuck for 15 minutes at that crossing on more than one occasion, however, I do sympathise with all drivers attempting to cross that crazy junction.
Faced with a solid stream of traffic from the north with many drivers immediately accelerating as soon as they pass the speed camera and travelling at 50mph-plus as they pass the actual junction it is indeed a daunting task to cross, especially for drivers of public service vehicles, who have their passengers to consider, and those who have HGVs to manoeuvre into a space never designed to take such vehicles. Then, when things go wrong, they are the ones who are persecuted.
The real rotten apples in the Laurencekirk A90 junction debacle are our MPs and MSPs, who for years have run around like headless chickens and done nothing. They, and they alone, are the ones who can, and must, provide a grade-separated junction at Laurencekirk, sooner rather than later.
Edward F. Valentino. 15 Napier Place, Marykirk, Laurencekirk.