Sir, – I refer to your news story about the proposed afforestation of the 1715 Sheriffmuir battlefield (November 26).
May I add my mite to Virginia Wills’ comment that the site is on a par with Culloden?
As a non-Scot who learned my British history in my native country, the 1715 and the 1745 Jacobite uprisings were taught as of equal importance, and rarely dealt with separately, with the 1745 perhaps getting a little more attention than the earlier date because it was the last throw of the dice and because of the brutal and barbarous repression of Highland society which followed the event.
It is your heritage to do with as you wish but to me, this is cultural vandalism and desecration of the worst sort.
Culloden already resembles a theme park; let a little of the spirit of those years live on at Sheriffmuir, I beg you.
Laurie Richards.
100 Crail Road,
Cellardyke.
Suicide-risk men need help
Sir, – Kieran Andrews’ column (November 28) covered mental health and suicide risk in men before going on to talk about politicians wearing fake moustaches to highlight men’s issues.
The real scandal is left until the last paragraph; why men are under so much pressure in society that they make up 75% of suicides in the world.
Isn’t it obvious that the reduction in stable jobs and careers for men who still see themselves as breadwinners has resulted in a loss of purpose and a lowering of self-esteem for so many men that is very difficult to get back and some will simply never recover from the shame of being jobless.
The Ken Loach film, I Daniel Blake, epitomises the honest, decent and principled working-class man who after having a heart attack, ends up fighting an intolerant benefits system that has never been radically altered by the Scottish Government despite powers to do so.
I’ve recorded the testimonies of middle-aged men in Fife losing their jobs then being sanctioned by the benefits system.
As pressure is forced on local government to effect more and more cuts, more and more short-term gains will cause long-term health problems for many men.
The NHS will simply pick up the budget for all this cost cutting and it is going to take more than a woman wearing a false moustache to address the scandal of mental health issues and suicides among men in this country.
David Cruickshanks.
4 Weavers Crescent,
Kirkcaldy.
Anster shellfish landing figures
Sir, – Readers of your business section (November 24) may have been surprised to read of the value of fish landed at Anstruther for 2015 – 1,168 tonnes of shellfish valued at £ 3.9 million from a fleet of 105 boats.
If only. Sadly, although the tonnage and value figures are correct, the inference that Anster has a fleet of 105 boats is completely misleading.
Anster has only a small fleet of inshore boats, and Pittenweem is by far the largest port in terms of landings and value, from Peterhead to Eyemouth.
Anster is where the local fishery office is based and for administration purposes is, therefore, classed as the lead port for the district.
The Anstruther district extends from Newburgh on the Tay, right round the Fife coast to Alloa on the Forth.
Every harbour in Fife be it Crail or Burntisland, will have any fish catches landed there, logged as being landed in Anster.
Ronnie Hughes.
1 Pickford Crescent,
Cellardyke.
Let down by Angus Council
Sir, – I have just checked my green bin collection dates and see that they were stopped in the middle of November.
This is a ridiculous date as we are all struggling in my neighbourhood to collect all the leaves which are still falling.
I have two bins full and a garden full of leaves still to be gathered.
I paid £50 to have my bins emptied and feel this should continue into December.
I recently read an article in The Courier in which a councillor boasted of the success of the scheme and how they had saved the jobs of 25 bin men.
What are the bin men doing now because they are not emptying the bins I paid for?
Robert Cumming.
Bennachie,
5 Peebles ,
Letham Grange.
London raid on Police Scotland
Sir, – I am delighted that Councillor Fraser Macpherson sees fit to enter the debate over Police Scotland’s estate review (November 25).
He raises the issue of a “£21 million black hole in the Police Scotland budget”.
This would be more than resolved if Westminster had not taken £76 million from Police Scotland in VAT.
Police Scotland is the only police force on these islands charged VAT.
Neither the national force of Northern Ireland nor the regional forces of England face such charges.
This has been the case since the force was formed in 2013.
That means the Liberal Democrats and their Tory allies in coalition signed off on this anomaly.
But rather than fight Scotland’s corner over Westminster fiscally punishing Scotland, Councillor Macpherson seeks refuge in the old SNP- bad mantra so beloved of unionist politicians.
I would suggest the Liberal Democrats would be better off fighting for a fairer deal for our police force rather than letting the Tories rob Police Scotland of vital resources needed to help keep our streets safe.
Councillor Kevin Cordell.
The Ferry Ward,
City Chambers
Dundee.
EU will get tough in Brexit talks
Sir, – In recent decades we have suffered from a succession of economically illiterate leaders and Theresa May certainly looks as if she is already operating at the very limits of her competence.
The enthusiasm that met her was understandable as we had been without leadership since the EU referendum and the disarray among leading Brexiteers only reinforced a sense of constitutional breakdown.
But then she chose that bizarre trio of Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and David Davis, refused an early general election (though she condemned Gordon Brown for the same offence) and dares not trigger Article 50.
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary indicates we will be hammered by the EU in Brexit trade deals and the situation reminds me of The Eagles’ Hotel California: “You can check out any time you like but you can never leave.”
Dr John Cameron.
10 Howard Place,
St Andrews.