Madam, – John Watson of Broughty Ferry Community Council is delighted that planning was refused on a 10 year vacant site and that “good sense prevailed”.
I totally disagree with his comments and those of the councillors who voted against Aldi’s plans at Tom Johnston Road, Claypotts.
Aldi is one of the fastest growing, most successful retailers in the UK through organic growth, which is the result of customer acceptance and demand.
To reject an investment of £4.25 million in the Dundee economy and the promise of 35 well paid jobs to the immediate area defies logic.
They have failed to acknowledge that the vast majority of the local shopping population would welcome a value-for-money discount quality retailer at Claypotts, evidenced by the very busy Lidl and Aldi stores trading successfully within the city.
The demographics would reflect and confirm this key factor. They have not thought this through and to say that “employment could be at the detriment of local jobs and local businesses’’ is downright irresponsible.
Councillor Scott and Mr Watson need to remember this is a destination store.
The centre of Broughty Ferry is quite a distance away and has its own established integrity, vitality and viability.
This also applies to the other smaller shopping precincts.
The immediate competition store, Sainsbury’s, of course would need to “up their game”. This can only serve in the best interests for shoppers too.
With reference to comments on the A92 main arterial route and traffic. The implication is that, should the site be acquired for industrial use as per the local plan, planning would again be refused for the same traffic management issues to which they refer. It doesn’t make sense.
Messrs Watson and Scott and local councillors would be better serving the community by trying to resolve the extremely serious A92 traffic build-ups evidenced on the morning and afternoon school runs.
Drivers taking their children to school are at risk on the Clearwater roundabout and Balgillo Road junctions.
Every school day, cars can be seen straddled over the roundabout through no fault of their own.
This has to be a priority to resolve this in the interests of safety for parents and children. It would be time better spent.
It is well documented how businesses in Dundee are either closing down or shrinking their workforces.
We must encourage and embrace companies who have identified Dundee as a worthwhile investment and not keep putting barriers up. Dundee needs the jobs and outside investment.
Stephen Koral.
Inchkeith,
Broughty Ferry.
Undermined by its own hand
Madam, – I feel the need to challenge the assumptions expressed by Robert Scott (Underhand tactics of the SNP, Courier, September 18)
His understanding of the Scottish courts in relation to the legal system of the UK is wrong.
The separation of the Scottish Legal System under the Act of Union 1707 did not preclude its jurisdiction over UK law.
In fact it remains integrated in UK law.
The Court of Session is a superior court over the High Court in England.
As Scotland sends MPs to Westminster then the courts of Scotland have jurisdiction over the legality of its actions.
To suggest that a Superior Scottish Court’s jurisdictions is questionable where the UK Government is concerned is wrong, if not ridiculous.
The UK Government has appealed the Court of Sessions decision to the Supreme Court of the UK because this is the only way to turn over their decision, as the Supreme Court is the final Court of Appeal in the UK.
I would refer Mr Scott to the Act of Union 1707 and to aquaint himself with the workings and jurisdictions of the courts of Scotland.
Further suggestions that Scottish courts have no business in interfering in English issues really says it all.
That the motives of the SNP were partisan underhand and politically motivated sums up a rather biased unsubstantiated political stance. To suggest the interference and political aims of the SNP were a means of undermining the shambolic Westminster parliament really does not cut the mustard.
Westminster is undermining itself with little help from anyone else.
Finally, minority administrations exist in both parliaments. Boris Johnson made sure of that in Westminster.
Dan Wood.
Charles Melvin Gardens, Kirriemuir.
More than a raised eyebrow
Madam, – A Buckingham Palace source has said former UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s disclosure that he sought help from the Queen ahead of the Scottish independence vote in 2014 has “caused displeasure”.
However, many citizens will be pleased because it is further evidence the country needs a written constitution.
This episode adds to the list of recent deviations to the country’s unwritten constitutional norms.
Nevertheless, it should not be downplayed.
In my opinion it was more than an aberrational “raising of the eyebrow” by Her Majesty.
Other aspects to be considered are the stage management of the woman questioner and media reporters strategically placed outside Crathie Kirk, where the Queen attends Sunday services while at Balmoral, when Her Majesty gave the seemingly heartfelt and personal observation that the Scottish people should “think carefully about the future”.
The producers and editors of the initial news source have questions to answer too.
Geoff Naylor.
21 Birch Close,
Winchester.
Change to stay the same
Madam, – The school strikers have led the way in waking the world’s leaders up to the climate crisis.
It is time for the rest of us to stand with them in solidarity.
They have shown that people power can move governments.
The rest of us now need to step up and stand with the children demanding radical, systemic change, before it is too late.
While many people are nervous about the scale of economic transition we need to preserve our climate, the young understand that if we want things to stay the same, things will have to radically change.
John Sauven.
Executive Director,
Greenpeace UK.
Control of immigration
Madam, – I recently attended a conference organised by Stephen Gethins MP and Mark Ruskell MSP for EU nationals living here in Scotland.
I was shocked at the appalling treatment of our fellow citizens by the UK Home Office.
Scotland must urgently get control over immigration, as was promised by Westminster in 2016 but not yet delivered.
Andrew Collins.
Ladyburn House,
Skinners Steps, Cupar.
Simple answer to simple query
Madam, – A simple question.
Who is paying – or going to pay – for all of this Brexit nonsense?
Mrs J Crook.
7 Demarco Drive,
Glenrothes.
