Sir, – I agree with the basic premise in your correspondent John Birkett’s letter regarding the urgent need to settle the issues on a new building for Madras College.
Given recent announcements from Fife Council subsequent to the Court of Session decision, it is apparent that Fife Council is not willing to accept the call by Roderick Campbell MSP for all sides to sit down in an attempt to reach an agreement acceptable to all sides, and get on with it.
As a point of clarification to the point made by Mr Birkett regarding my comment that the biomass plant being constructed in Guardbridge would never have been approved for construction within St Andrews, and his point that the Pipeland proposal did include a biomass plant, it is important to note the difference in scale, as the Guardbridge plant will be around 10 times the size of the proposed
biomass plant in the Pipeland application.
Notwithstanding this difference in scale, it is still a bad idea to locate a biomass plant on a school site, given the environmental concerns and the fact that children whose lungs are still developing, are particularly vulnerable to the pollutants which result from incinerating solid fuel using biomass technology.
We are waiting for an official response from NHS Fife on the public health risks from biomass, and its findings will certainly be relevant to the Madras College project and the Guardbridge community.
There has been no response to date from the University of St Andrews to the calls for a rigorous scientific approach to biomass, transparency on the expected level of carbon emissions in Guardbridge, and acceptance of the need for consultations regarding the appropriate level of independent monitoring of air quality and emissions.
Athole Stewart.
Main Street,
Leuchars.
Poor pay price of cutbacks
Sir, – Two horror stories drew my attention last week.
The first was about a Dundee man who has to depend on the charity of foodbanks.
This man has been denied help for the next three years because of a few simple errors at the Jobcentre.
There seems to be a growing trend in this country to pick on the weak or folk down on their luck.
Then there was a story that you will have to pay £270 to have your garden maintained in Dundee if you are disabled or elderly. This is absolutely
horrendous.
I will ask Dundee councillors again. How many of their staff earning more than £50,000 were made redundant in the recent wave of cuts?
I know that a lot of cleansing and parks staff were. To someone on £50,000 a year, £270 is no problem. To someone on a basic pension or disability, already cut, it is a nightmare.
William Duthie.
25 St Fillans Road,
Dundee.
Fitting tribute to Nan Shepherd
Sir, – It is wonderful to hear that Nan Shepherd is to be honoured at long last by featuring on the new Royal Bank of Scotland £5 note.
As Nan’s nearest neighbour in Cults, my wife spent many happy hours playing in her garden as a small child. It seems only yesterday that we shared a quiet lunch at home with an elderly Nan who still spoke eloquently and passionately of her love for the mountains.
It fills me with horror and sadness, therefore, to imagine what Nan would have thought about the hundreds of giant industrial wind turbines encroaching on her beloved Cairngorms.
Remember, wind farms are now visible from 60% of Scotland (Wildland Research Institute 2014).
Let us honour and cherish Nan’s spiritual memory by defending what little remains of our finest landscapes.
I would encourage readers to immerse themselves in Nan’s legendary book: The Living Mountain. Our copy is much treasured.
George Herraghty.
Lothlorien,
Lhanbryde.
Vote threat to investment
Sir, – Slowly but surely, in interviews leading up to the vote on the May 5, Nicola Sturgeon’s true position on a re-run of the referendum is becoming clear.
While we have known for some time that Brexit is one of numerous SNP triggers for another referendum, latest responses from the First Minister reveal more than that.
These triggers are little more than hollow excuses. Ms Sturgeon has now effectively confirmed that the reason why there is no specific commitment to a second referendum by a particular date in her manifesto, is that she prefers instead to simply wait until the opinion polls are at their most favourable for her position before calling a date.
While it is now a well accepted principle that for democracy to work fairly, one side should not have an open-ended right to vary the timing of a poll to suit themselves, that is exactly what the SNP plans for Scotland.
This tactic is confirmed by the already announced intention of the SNP to start a new debate about separation in the summer, without any condition of triggers attached, nor any regard for what the people of Scotland actually want.
Meanwhile, the SNP continues to ignore the need for the UK Parliament to approve any new referendum, rather leaving that as a cause for
further future discord.
The exact impact on Scottish jobs of potentially another five years of such uncertainty hanging over us can only be guessed at, but anyone who has ever made an investment decision knows it will most definitely be negative.
Keith Howell.
White Moss,
West Linton.
SNP seeking division
Sir, – Nicola Sturgeon talks about a second independence referendum following Brexit as though some inexorable forces of nature would bring it about.
What she really means is that she will campaign for a second referendum in that case.
The SNP is not being swept along on a tidal wave of nationalism, but is desperately trying to create such a surge.
Is the distinction important? It is. Nationalism can be a solution to a problem where there is dissatisfaction because national sentiment does not align with statehood.
However, in Scotland, nationalists strive to create the problem in order to offer themselves as the solution to it.
Richard Lucas.
11 Broomyknowe,
Colinton,
Edinburgh.
Electric cars a waste of cash
Sir, – A survey by Auto Express Driver Power found that the Tesla Model S was the most popular car in the range of electric and hybrid cars.
This car costs between £50,000 and £83,000 so not many can afford to boast their green credential in this way.
What those who own electric cars do not say is that their vehicles were only built thanks to fossil fuels, steel and other imported components.
The emissions incurred in manufacture will take years to recoup.
There are 35 million vehicles in the UK so electric car owners will make not one bit of difference to emissions.
They can, however, feel the glow of satisfaction and delude themselves that £50,000 to £83,000 was well spent.
Clark Cross.
138 Springfield Road,
Linlithgow.
Pension rules unfair to men
Sir, – I note that once again Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale is protesting at what she sees as unfairness to women.
On this occasion she waxes lyrical on the gradual increases to the age at which females can draw the state pension.
Ms Dugdale says it is unfair and she will do something about it.
I have no issue with a challenge to the age question but I am rather concerned that she does not appear to be leading a crusade on behalf of the male of the species.
In 1940, the age at which women could secure their old-age pension was reduced to 60.
Men, despite the fact that they have a far shorter life expectancy, remained at 65.
This situation continued until 2010, a full 70 years, where women had an advantage.
In Ms Dugdale’s eyes, was this situation fair and equitable or does equality and injustice only work in one direction?
By all means campaign against what is being perceived as unfair against the female but at the same time, I look forward to Ms Dugdale also galvanising her party to fight for and secure back money for the millions of disadvantaged men.
Alan Crombie.
6 Almond Way,
Glenrothes.
A ballot box vote winner?
Sir, – The SNP’s desire to help every Scot through every major event in life, most recently exhibited in the plan for baby boxes is truly inspiring.
However there is one major event they have yet to embrace – death.
What is required is for Ms Sturgeon to pledge a bereavement box to each family faced with these sad, but inevitable, circumstances.
Such a chest would include such essentials as a biodegradable coffin – the box itself – a spade, an inch tape, a Saltire and a case of whisky to start off a modest wake.
Not only will this offer much appreciated help to hard-pressed Scottish families, but it is sure to be a vote winner as well.
George Inglis.
7 East Mains Holdings,
Ingliston Road,
Newbridge,
Edinburgh.
Cyclists should use A92 path
Sir, – When the A92 between Arbroath and Dundee was made into a dual carriageway, a cycle path was created.
Most cyclists use it but a few insist on cycling on the road. They have a right to do so but I can’t help thinking it would be safer on the path.
Robert Anderson.
Kirkton,
Arbroath.
