Sir, – When the people of Alyth awoke to water rushing down our streets on Friday July 17 we little dreamed of the disaster our treasured Alyth Burn would cause.
More than 100 properties were damaged. Many were made homeless and dispossessed of their belongings.
Then the rescue services stepped in.
The firemen immediately began getting people out of their homes, through windows and by boat.
Hot on their heels came the council services who worked tirelessly alongside the fire service.
SSE teams were present in great numbers and were determined to get our electric back on.
The town hall was opened as an emergency centre and staffed by volunteers to take care of our shocked residents.
Perth and Kinross Council housing and social welfare teams quickly followed and set about finding temporary accommodation for those in need.
The whole community worked as one. A plea went out for food, clothing and bedding which duly arrived by foot, car and by bike.
As the day passed our volunteers in the hall kitchen worked non-stop to provide food and tea and coffee.
Everyone who came to the hall was fed and comforted.
During the next couple of days, supplies arrived in enormous quantities, from across two counties.
We in Alyth would, therefore, like to thank everyone who helped in any way to alleviate the misery of what happen to us and our town.
The fire and rescue service was heroic and the council workers were legends.
SSE were superheroes in their efforts working until 10.30pm to complete connections.
The kitchen ladies were tremendous as were our volunteers on the scene and in the hall.
Costcutter and Scotmid sent us food and cleaning materials as other shops had fallen victim to the flood.
Co-an from Blairgowrie sent van loads of cleaning stuff. Davidson’s sent shovels, brooms and toiletries.
Four Tesco stores plus Asda and Sainsbury supplied large quantities of food, cleaning items and bedding.
The Scottish Flood Forum was on hand to advise on all aspects of flooding and was both saviour and mentor in many cases.
They will be at the town hall for about six months and will, therefore, be available for consultation.
What started as a disaster became a most uplifting experience, with everybody pulling together, sharing time, effort, expertise, laughs and love.
Barbara Prettyman. Chairman, Alyth Community Council, 59 Springbank Road, Alyth.
Concentrate on wealth creation
Sir, – Once again the SNP are raising the possibility of another referendum. They will keep going until they get the result they want.
While the NHS, education and the police service are falling apart under their centralisation and mismanagement, they continue to dupe their followers.
But the chickens are now being seen to come home to roost.
They should be focusing on growing the economy and encouraging businesses to come to prosper in Scotland.
If the economy is weak we cannot fund our public services.
Beth Boylen. 40 Fintry Place, Broughty Ferry.
Scotland at disadvantage
Sir, – I applaud your correspondent John Richardson for his question on the lack of a ferry service between Scotland and Europe (August 1).
It strikes me that the lack of such a service is a clear and obvious disadvantage to Scottish traders, manufacturers and the tourism industry.
Surely it is not beyond the wit of our political representatives to find a way through the tricky EU regulations that are said to limit the Scottish Government’s ability to address this problem?
John Evans. 19a Dalhousie Road, Broughty Ferry.
Lack of control room staff
Sir, – Regarding Joan Blue’s letter (August 1) comparing police response times to the M9 crash and an incident in Dundee, the action taken is down to the Dundee control room staff doing a good job.
It may be of interest that the control room staff at Bilston Glen near Edinburgh, responsible for M9 crash area, hold wellbeing clinics owing to workload pressure and understaffing.
Jim Balneaves. 4 Tayside Place, Glencarse.
Unfair Perth parking penalty
Sir, – I am sick and tired of the new parking arrangements in the Kinnoull Street car park in Perth.
The new machines seem to be causing enormous confusion and inconvenience to many Perth shoppers and I have now been fined £60 (my appeal has been dismissed) even for not parking at all. So, all shoppers beware.
I drove in to try to find my wife (and her car) so I could leave an urgent message on it, for she was not answering her mobile phone.
It took me 13 minutes to drive slowly round each floor, delayed somewhat by people going into or out of parking spaces but my search was unsuccessful.
She eventually rang my own mobile phone and the problem was resolved.
At no time did I park my car. I subsequently received a parking charge notice for £100, reduced to £60 if I paid within 14 days.
Smart Parking, however, are unimpressed with my explanatory letter and still want their £60.
They say by parking, waiting or otherwise remaining within this private car park, you agree to comply with the terms and conditions. It is the driver’s responsibility to purchase a valid ticket for the duration of their stay in a car park, therefore, the parking charge notice was correctly issued.
Before these new machines there would not have been a problem for I was not, at any time, in a parking bay.
It seems we have a Birmingham-based money-making monster in our midst. Personally I will never park there again unless circumstances force me to do so.
Roger Ward. Kyles, 5 Main Road, Luncarty.
Perthshire can lead way
Sir, – It is heartening that Perth and Kinross Council is leading the way in pressing disused properties back into use.
Our countryside and town centres are littered with either derelict cottages, or flats above shops.
This far-sighted plan by the council may encourage the private sector to follow suit.
Bob Ferguson. North Muirton, Perth.
Limbering upfor new vote
Sir, – Speaking in Hong Kong, the First Minister said that if the Scottish people do vote in future to have another referendum, then “no politician has the right to stand in their way”.
This was directed at Prime Minister David Cameron, who has said there will not be a second referendum during this term of parliament.
The apparent gulf between the views of these two democrats arises from the First Minister’s reference to the Scottish people voting for a referendum.
This is no doubt a reference to the 2016 Holyrood elections which all expect the SNP to win conclusively.
But will the SNP manifesto only have one issue in it? And will they secure more than 50% of the eligible Scottish electorate?
The answer to both would need to be yes for the First Minister to be right, as she yet again equates the SNP’s supporters with the people of Scotland.
The Prime Minister’s position is consistent with the “respect for the referendum outcome” wording in the Edinburgh Agreement, the talk during the referendum of a once-in-a-generation decision and recent opinion polls showing the continued desire of the majority of people in Scotland to want to stay in the UK.
Keith Howell. White Moss, West Linton. Peeblesshire.
Britain needs points system
Sir, – We do not need Alex Salmond to remind us (August 3) that the so-called migrants amassed at Calais are people not insects.
That they are people is self evident.
Mr Salmond then goes on to state that the reason they wish to come to the UK is that they are fluent in English but not in French. What evidence does he have to make such a claim?
On the television news most seem to have no or very limited English.
Mr Salmond suggests they are escaping persecution such as the threat of being raped in Darfur.
They are all living in a civilised country called France where they are safe. The only country they are fleeing is France.
A New Zealand-type points system where we give residency to those who have skills we need such as nurses, doctors or engineers, who have qualifications recognised in the UK and who have fluent English would help. This system works well in NZ and Australia so why not here?
Gordon Rennie. Stenton Farm, St Monans.
Corbyn hope for Scots Labour
Sir, – Alex Salmond is right that, of all the Labour leadership candidates, you know where you stand with Jeremy Corbyn.
If I was a true Labour Party supporter fed up with the old guard’s spin and focus group cheese- paring policies, I would back him. Otherwise, I would vote for Liz Kendall.
It will be interesting to see how Mr Corbyn deals with Scotland and how the SNP and the voters react to his Labour Party.
He will surely expose the cynicism of the SNP’s pseudo-fairness and equality policies and “out-left” them on many others.
Corbyn certainly can offer a more considered, cerebral approach that will be a breath of fresh air.
He may also back the retention of the United Kingdom.
We could see the SNP’s hard-won, far-left and disillusioned Labour voters returning to their spiritual home.
Allan Sutherland. 1 Willow Row, Stonehaven.