Sir, Your article entitled, Fife Deprivation, only tells part of the story of the decline of the mining industry in Fife. The Labour Party under Harold Wilson had started closing uneconomic mines long before Margaret Thatcher became prime minister.
The process accelerated because of the stupidity of union leaders who tried to hold the country to ransom by striking without ballots.
Beyond these obvious facts, coal-mining in the UK was on the way out anyway because imported coal was far cheaper than the cost of domestic production, taking account of the continuing cost of capital investment needed to maintain and expand the industry, on top of the increasing actual production costs fuelled by ever-increasing union demands for more and more money to be paid to members.
You can’t change an economy to accommodate special interests that have to be forever subsidised by taxpayers.
The real tragedy here is that there was no concerted government/council plans and efforts to replace the coal industry in Fife and to re-skill the workforce instead of passively allowing it to live on the dole for years. That was the fault of Scottish MPs and council leaders, who should have been lobbying for this instead of simply spouting bile and invective.
It is easy to blame Westminster but Westminster has a million issues competing for attention every day.
It should be the job of local MPs to come up with the innovations necessary to sustain local communities.
Nothing is ever achieved in life from negative attitudes.
Derek Farmer. Knightsward Farm, Anstruther.
Anti-cyclist rants are not helping
Sir, It seems that barely a day goes by without yet another rant against cyclists appearing in your letters page. This, when huge efforts are being made to promote cycling in this country as a means of reducing the horrific rate of heart attacks and strokes within our population which is among the worst in the western world.
Some facts for those drivers who berate these so-called “dangerous” cyclists: recent UK Government figures report a yearly rise from 2,661 cyclists killed or seriously injured to 2,940 a rise of 10.5%.
The problem looks even more dramatic if the killed or seriously injured figures for just the first quarter of 2011 are compared to the same period of 2010 this comes out at a staggering 36% increase.
To protest about the dangers caused by cyclists, when there are no recorded instances of any driver being injured by a cyclist, would be laughable were it not for the damage this does to the efforts being made to promote a healthier way of life.
George White. 2 Cupar Road, Auchtermuchty.
Lack of local knowledge
Sir, Regrettably, local politicians have left it too late to fight against the closure of Cupar Sheriff Court.
The decision, like many others, is made by our political leaders who lack the local knowledge and simply draw a line through the item under the guise that it will save money.
Oddly enough, 50 years ago Dr Beeching carried out identical action with the rail network and we have regretted it ever since.
Just think of the money which could be saved if there was an independent review carried out on the wastage at Holyrood and Westminster. But, of course, such a review will never take place.
John McDonald. 14 Rosebery Court, Kirkcaldy.
Didn’t make the connection
Sir, Regarding your recent the story, Return of the pine marten. I read with interest about the spread of these mustelids.
Lizzie Croose of the Vincent Wildlife Trust comes out with a quote: “At a time when some native mammals are declining, it is fantastic to see the pine marten population is recovering and expanding its range in Scotland.”
The story made no connection with regard to the rise of the marten and the fall in mammal numbers.
So-called “wildlife experts have welcomed the news” they obviously have never had an entire flock of hens decimated or had the swallow and house martin nests ripped from the side of their house. A beautiful creature the marten is, but will we be able to control this very agile beast when it becomes a victim of its own success?
Buzzards now fill the skies and although a licence is available in theory to control them, none is given. Will this be the same for rampaging hoards of pine martens soon to be in a wood near you?
Bob Edgar. 35 Sandport, Kinross.