Sir, – It seems that Murdo Fraser MSP is just the latest in a series of politicians who over the years have pleaded for something to be done over illegal Travellers’ encampments (October 16).
These pleas have become almost as ritualistic as the cost of clearing up the debris.
Yet it is now nearly 50 years since the need for accommodation for Travellers was first put forward by the late Lord Avebury. While some of the sites have been a model of effective management, too often there is a depressing tale of woe elsewhere: warring factions in the Travelling community itself, a lacklustre approach by central government, a reactive approach by councils, and a bewildered public.
Some people are guilty of downright prejudice, but the majority yearn for a live-and-let-live approach and a sense of responsibility from the Travellers themselves. Everyone is fed up with the cost of all this chaos.
It is time for Holyrood to take a positive approach.
It needs to call a summit of all those concerned and hammer out an agreed programme for permanent and temporary sites throughout the country.
It is no use delegating this to a junior minister helped by officials and councillors who at heart simply want the problem to go away.
A cabinet minister has to take the lead and the leaders of the travelling community must respond with commitment and sincerity.
Only then is there a chance of getting a deal to solve a problem that has been allowed to fester for decades.
Bob Taylor.
24 Shiel Court,
Glenrothes.
A disturbing experience
Sir, – I was interested to read about the increasing number of people having to wait for more than one hour for an ambulance after calling 999.
Two and a half years ago I hurt my back seriously which was (misdiagnosed) as muscle spasm.
I was refused an X-ray or a scan with me being told that 80% of sore backs get better within two weeks.
I was told to get on with things but to avoid heavy lifting for a while.
A few days later my back became much worse and the pain was excruciating. My wife rang 999 but the ambulance controller refused me an ambulance because my symptoms “were not life-threatening”.
A few days later I finally had a X-ray that showed a serious compression fracture of my L1 vertebra.
I eventually had an operation which was only partially effective.
My surgeon told me that if I had the operation much sooner my outcome would have been much better.
I complained to the Scottish Ambulance Service and they confirmed that I couldn’t have an emergency ambulance due to my injury not being life-threatening. I find myself wondering how many other people have similar experiences to me.
Harry Key.
20 Mid Street,
Largoward.
We can help stop fly-tipping
Sir, – The scourge of fly-tipping is well known but many people are unaware they can help tackle it even without witnessing the offence.
I used Dundee City Council website to report rubbish dumped in Caird Park and on Monday morning received a phone call to say that it had been investigated, evidence obtained as to the source and it would be dealt with including some other rubbish which has been sitting there ignored by the park staff for months.
In the past I have reported rubbish on country roadsides and this has been cleared by the local councils.
If the rubbish is on private land it is the responsibility of the landowner who, not surprisingly, is often reluctant to go to the expense and effort to remove it but if a passer-by moves it to the roadside it can then be dealt with by the council, leading to an improvement in our environment.
John Richmond.
12 Shamrock Street,
Dundee.
Where is the money?
Sir, – Congratulations to Dundee on securing a large share of the new social security jobs.
But why do we need to spend £400 million and employ 1,500 people on a Scottish social security organisation anyway?
The £2.8bn spend is already administered at a UK level anyway.
This money would pay for the recently announced 30 days of free childcare.
I hope some of our MSPs ask about this, because the other example of the SNP taking on a UK system, farm payments, has been a shambles, the IT alone costing £178m and counting.
I can only assume that the plan is to either increase payments or to widen the recipient base, and if the planned 14% payments rise in one of the new powers, carers allowance, is anything to go by, this suggests another £400m added to the £2.8bn.
Where will the money come from? Increased taxes or cuts elsewhere?
Allan Sutherland.
1 Willow Row,
Stonehaven.
Bias against treatments
Sir, – On October 13 you published a letter (Psychiatric drugs the issue) from Brian Daniels of East Grinstead in which he attacked psychiatric treatments in which drug therapy is used, claiming that they are connected with “senseless acts of violence” (such as the recent shootings in Las Vegas in the United States.
He cited the work of the Citizens’ Committee on Human Rights.
What he failed to reveal was that he is the United Kingdom spokesman for the Citizens’ Committee on Human Rights.
This is a front organisation for the Scientology Cult, based in the United Kingdom at East Grinstead in East Sussex.
Founded in 1969, the CCHR wages media campaigns against psychiatrists, psychiatric organisations and pharmaceutical companies.
Mr Daniels also failed to acknowledge the successful treatment of many millions of people by established mental health treatments using drug therapies.
Furthermore, he is guilty of being selective in evidence to support his thesis.
He did not mention the horrific mass shooting at Dunblane because it contradicts his proposition.
The murderer (Thomas Hamilton) had no traces of any drug in his body.
It is disgraceful that individuals such as Brian Daniels should seek to use tragedies such as Las Vegas to further their questionable campaign.
As disturbing is the possibility that his propaganda could stop people who are suffering illness from seeking treatment or others discontinuing beneficial drug therapies.
Shame on you, Mr Daniels.
Dr Charles Lloyd.
18 Linefield Road,
Carnoustie.
