Today’s letter writers give their opinions on subjects including RRS Discovery, the SNP’s stance on independence, interest-free borrowing, and the march (backwards) of progress.
Discovery won’t be sinking Dundee financesSir, We are writing in response to Mr Hunt’s letter ‘Can we afford the V&A?’ (October 2) and the comment it contained which appeared to suggest that Discovery is a financial burden on the city and its taxpayers.
Dundee Heritage Trust is an independent museum charity and receives a modest annual grant from Dundee City Council to help support RRS Discovery/Discovery Point and Verdant Works. This is the only public funding we receive and it equates to about 6% of our operating costs. The trust generates the remainder through trading activities and fund-raising efforts, a significant achievement for a small charity.
The public funding we do receive gives a fantastic return to the city. That return is not only economic but it also has a significant social benefit.
The trust’s museums are a key part of the tourist offering for Dundee and are a major factor in bringing people to the city. A recent economic assessment showed Dundee Heritage Trust is contributing over £2 million per annum to the local economy. The trust itself employs over 30 people, gives volunteering opportunities to many and also supports job creation schemes for young people. This figure excludes capital expenditure which, over the last couple of years alone, has seen the trust spend nearly £1 million in the Dundee area on goods and services, helping numerous local firms sustain and create employment.
Discovery has also played a substantial role in raising Dundee’s profile.
The primary reason for the trust’s existence is the preservation of Dundee’s heritage. The organisation is responsible for one of the most important historic ships in Britain and two Recognised Collections of National Significance.
Far from being an economic burden, Dundee Heritage Trust is primarily a self-financing economic driver bringing inward investment, jobs and prestige to the city.
Gill Poulter, heritage director; Mark Munsie, operations director; Phil Turner, finance director of Dundee Heritage Trust.SNP needs a rebrandSir, Some time ago I wrote to you regarding the loss of defence jobs in Fife should the SNP ever get their way and gain independence for Scotland.
It would be funny to see Alex Salmond running around trying to save jobs at Rosyth if the situation wasn’t so serious. These jobs wouldn’t be here in an independent Scotland.
This is another indication that the SNP call for independence should be dropped and we should all work together as a “United” Kingdom. This is especially relevant under a Tory government which has already shown it has no compassion.
There is no reason why the SNP can’t rebrand and restructure whilst staying a credible political force.
Colin Nikolic.Pitcairn, Glenrothes.We’re already on the map!Sir, I was astounded to read in Saturday’s paper that Sir Ian Wood CBE, Chancellor of RGU Aberdeen, doesn’t feel that Scotland is currently on the “world golfing map”. To then say that with the help from Donald Trump it would be just made it worse.
To suggest that Scotland, the home of golf, was not currently on the world map was preposterous!
I think Sir Ian should stick to handing out honorary degrees and leave the sports punditry to others.
A. Allan.Huntingfaulds Road,Tealing.Take interest in banking fiascoSir, Instead of saving a piffling £1bn a year by cutting child benefit, Chancellor Osborne could save £70bn a year by changing the ridiculous situation where the private banking system creates our money supply as debt, by means of electronic book-keeping that allows the same money to be lent over and over again by the perfectly legal system of fractional reserve lending.
We are presently paying a staggering £70bn a year of interest to private banks on the national debt, which is just a fancy name for the total sum of our unpaid borrowings of this endlessly re-lent money from these banks over the years.
Removing the burden of this interest by having the State create a debt-free money supply would cure many economic problems without the need for any benefit cuts.
Malcolm Parkin.15 Gamekeepers Road,Kinnesswood.However did we win war?Sir, In early 1945 engineers of the Allied Forces built in hours under heavy enemy fire numerous bridges across the mighty Rhine capable of taking jeeps, trucks and tanks.
In Saturday’s Courier, it was reported that the renewal of a bridge across the mighty Eden by modern-day engineers will now take even longer than originally thought nine months in total, in fact at enormous inconvenience and cost to motorists, not to mention to the environment in terms of extra fuel burned on the long diversional journeys.
However did we win the war?
Callum MacLeod.36 Radernie Place,St Andrews.
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.