Madam, – Saturday’s letters (The Courier, August 31) made interesting reading, particularly in the context of some respondents’ understanding of democracy in general and its application in the so-called union of equal states – also known as the UK.
Democratic acceptance of situations is supposed to be a fair reflection of a majority viewpoint, and normally, those involved will accept the result given that all parties taking part in the ballot have an equal chance of winning; unless one party has a built-in advantage of a vast numerical superiority in terms of votes over the other or others.
To put this in perspective, as with this fact in mind it would be politic to point out in reply to Victor Clements, (Letters August 31), that Brexit is only a problem in England and Wales as majorities in both Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to stay in the EU.
To be fair to Welsh voters initially taken in by misleading propaganda have now adopted a more sympathetic stance in favour of staying in Europe as well.
On the same date Keith Howell, ardent Conservative voter, suggests that Scotland owes Ruth Davidson a debt of gratitude for standing up to the SNP campaign for independence.
In this respect he must have missed the lady being regularly put in her place at First Minister’s question time at Holyrood.
But that said, it is proper to wish her well in her decision to stay at home and be a caring mother.
Finally, Derek Farmer derides the view of regular respondent Les McKay by reminding him that Scotland had voted to remain in the UK and was now duty bound to accept the Brexit decision to leave the EU which is debatable given the population demographic highlighted above.
Allan. A. MacDougall.
37 Forth Park,
Bridge of Allan.
Dundee missing golf course trick
Madam, – One of the cities municipal golf courses – (Camperdown Park) – must close.
On one side is the magnificent parkland course at Camperdown renowned within the world of golf for the opening and closing holes, not to mention a particularly tricky two tier par three.
Then there are the rolling fairways alongside the zoological gardens, where oft heard the sound and witnessed the sight of wild animals roaming.
The associated clubhouse and restaurant is a remarkable listed building, once the country residence of admiral Duncan who fought at the Battle of Camperdown and whose statue rests in the city centre, alongside other Dundee heroes.
Camperdown as a golf course is long and can be difficult for high handicap players, but this is the kind of test loved by golfers from the Americas and Far East.
Sad to say it would appear the country has nobody capable of promoting such a venue to tourists.
On the other side a parkland course of lesser significance in the world of golf set between major routes and housing developments and less of a test for curious golfers.
The Caird Park course was renowned for players who lost balls in the fairways alongside the dual carriageway, could invariably purchase them back as second hand in back nine, from local budding entrepreneurs.
No choice really, you might think but as any Dundonian knows the city fathers need two or three goes before they realise the treasures on the doorstep or within city limits.
One day perhaps those city fathers will give up their relentless search for the emperors’ new clothes.
Alan Bell.
Roods,
Kirriemuir.
‘Baffled’ by bus route choices
Madam, – Re the bus that left the road between Largoward and St Andrews (The Courier, August 31), I drove past the accident site on my way home and my first thought was how lucky it was that the accident happened where it did and that there were no injuries.
My second thought was that it is not a surprise that a bus was involved in an accident on that road. There are many very tight and narrow bends.
I am a regular user of this bus going into St Andrews and back home to Largoward.
I have witnessed many near misses with buses almost colliding with oncoming traffic by inches.
It baffles me why this route has huge double decker buses when there are so few passengers.
The buses between St Andrews and Dundee, which leave every 10 minutes, have single decker buses and are often busy.
It would seem sensible to me to put the double deckers on the busy route and to put single deckers on the far less busy and more twisty and narrow route between St Andrews and Leven.
Harry Key.
20, Mid Street,
Largoward.
Accelerate park and ride plans
Madam, – With respect to recent news that there is a wish to exile petrol and diesel cars from Dundee city centre in 2030, and the current transport arrangements, I would like to make the following comment.
Dundee, for its population, geographical size and the number of people working in the city, resident in outlying areas of say 30 miles distance, is blatantly lacking in park and ride facilities.
I would suggest that the local authorities involved, i.e. Dundee City, Angus and Fife, start now in planning how they will manage the situation of requiring four park and ride facilities at say Monifieth serving the east and northeast, Tealing serving the north, Gowrie for the west and one for the south side of the Tay Bridge.
They have only 11 years to get something in place and by the speed they usually work at they will surely need this time for planning and execution of a system, otherwise the wheels will certainly come grinding to a halt.
Geoff Bray.
Heather Croft,
Letham.
Ammunition from the classics
Madam, – In his usual temperate and measured fashion Alan Hinnrichs compares Boris Johnson to the Roman dictator Sulla (Letters, The Courier, August 30).
He need go back only 250 years prior, to Alexander the Great cutting the Gordian knot, to find perhaps a more fitting analogy.
If Alan really wants ammunition from the classics against Boris, a mere lifetime back from Alexander he will find the Greek Alcibiades, arch opportunist and self-serving demagogue.
I have wondered if it were coincidence that a new biography of Alcibiades came out last year, coincident with Boris’ rise to power.
Hector Maclean.
Spott,
Kirriemuir.
Emergence of the Far Right
Madam, – Naseh Ahmed (‘Victims of Islamophobia’), The Courier, September 2) suggests that it is the emergence of the Far Right which is responsible for the increasing incidence of Islamophobic verbal attacks on Muslims.
Might he not consider that it may be the result of the attacks on Christians by Muslims who express their Christophobia by stabbing, beheading, blowing people up, and sexually exploiting young Christian girls?
George Dobbie.
51 Airlie Street,
Alyth.
