Today’s letters to The Courier editor focus on Dundee’s games industry, tidal power, the case for a council tax hike and the teaching of Gaelic. There is also a clarification on the subject of school class sizes.
Was games industry success simply hype?
Sir,-Is the experience of Realtime Worlds just another consequential example of market conditions, or a failure of a city and its own distorting marketing mentality?
A range of Dundee institutions and organisations, have, over a number of years, trumped up Dundee as the leading centre of computer games technology in the UK. Has this game of publicity been the correct approach?
Firstly, before 2002, we had no history of computing expertise greater than other similar cities, let alone expertise in computer games.
Secondly, if we were indeed a city of games leaders, would that talent not have awareness similar to that of Apple or Microsoft of producing product after product that satisfies customer needs? It is clear a five-year product development process has produced a product somewhat lacking in market attractiveness.
Thirdly, we have games graduates who are constantly told they are the best in the UK, leading to inflated expectations.
This is perhaps a timely warning. We should take care that expectations created for us should be realistic.
Have we all believed our own marketing, where we are indeed a city full of top quality computer games talent?
Graham Duncan.7 Downie Park Road,Dundee.
Restrictions of tidal powerSir,-Before we get carried away with the euphoria and hype over the new tidal-power turbine from Norway (August 18), we should put the power generated into the perspective of reality rather than the early electioneering propaganda already being put out by politicians.
Each of these new machines can produce one megawatt of power. At 9.30am on August 18, the entire array of UK wind turbines was producing 155 megawatts and combined pump storage/hydro 662 megawatts.
So a few hundred of these new turbines could replace or back up these paltry renewable icons of the politicians and developers. However, at the same time almost 40,000 megawatts were being produced by coal, gas and nuclear.
Could Alex Salmond or Jim Mather tell us where they plan to put 40,000 or so tidal turbines?
Is it part of an anti-submarine defence plan or an attempt to regenerate inshore fish stocks by making trawling impossible?
Ron Greer.Armoury House,Blair Atholl.
Consider a council tax hike
Sir,-Some sections of our community are against an end to the council tax freeze, however, they seem to forget using this tax system to generate money is much fairer than raising charges for services that the most vulnerable in our community rely on as this hits those on low incomes hardest and the council tax freeze benefits the wealthy disproportionately.
Indeed UNISON Scotland and the leader of Glasgow City Council have been the first to publicly state the end to a council tax freeze will be welcomed as it will limit the scale of damaging cuts to much-needed services around the country.
I for one would be more than willing to pay extra each month to ensure the elderly and disadvantaged retain their lifeline services.
George McIrvine.SecretaryUNISON,Tayside Police Staff Branch.
Room for two tongues
Sir,-R. Mulheron, a resident of Tayport formerly known as Ferry Port-on-Craig, a derivative of the Gaelic Partan Craig, raises his cudgel at the soft target of Gaelic language funding.
But he failed to clarify whether he wishes every Scottish Loch renamed lake, or ben renamed mount, or whether a purse, rather than sporran, is the correct complement to a kilt.
He also failed to clarify whether he wishes to return to a system of beating children who dare speak in the Gaelic tongue. Gaelic was not cast aside by Scots but forced from them by active and passive government persecution throughout the centuries.
Edinburgh as well as London must share the blame for this. Therefore, any belated support from Government should be welcomed.
Gaelic tuition should be in conjunction with the teaching of other languages.
It is a sad reflection of our monoglot mindset that states it has to be one or the other.
Kevin Cordell.2 Nevis Place,Broughty Ferry.
Barnhill — a joint response
Sir,-I refer to your article headlined ‘Warning over class size cuts’.
I would like to make it clear that the response to the Scottish Government’s consultation document, made by Barnhill Primary School Parent Council, Dundee, was submitted by me on behalf of the parent council as a whole.
The response was correctly published on the Scottish Government website under the organisations and not individual responses section, however, due to an oversight which has now been rectified, my name was originally published alongside the response.
This led to the misunderstanding that the comments contained in the response had been made by me personally.
My role as chairperson of the parent council was simply to collate responses from various members of the council, some of which had been made in the first person, and submit these under the banner of an organisation response.
Please be aware that the quotations contained in the article were taken directly from this organisation response and do not necessarily represent my own personal opinions.
Stephen Bain.Chairperson,Barnhill Primary School Parent Council,c/o Barnhill Primary School,Falkland Crescent.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.