Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – ”Members of the local authority’s executive committee approved the blueprint drawn up by Fife’s road safety partners in a bid to reduce casualty reduction rates on the region’s roads, in line with targets set by the Scottish Government” (Wednesday’s Courier. Wow. Thanks for telling us that.
Where can we see their blueprint? How soon do you think we will see their wisdom turn into spectacular action on dangerous big potholes, roadsides breaking up (witness the Ceres to Baldinnie road) and road signs blown down and left down.
Triangular signs about road flooding are no award-winning substitute for ditch cleaning and proper drainage.
Road safety isn’t just about ”educating” drivers with speed humps and mantras like ”Safe Drive, Stay Alive”, it is also about making the roads safe for cars and bikes to drive on.
So, here’s wishing all the Fife Road Safety Partners further award-winning successes by setting a good example for other regions to live up to. Make the roads safe for law-abiding road users including emergency services in a hurry to deal with emergencies.
Someone once suggested digging up the speed humps and filling potholes with them. It would go a long way to solve traffic safety problems.
Aase Goldsmith.Mid Street,Largoward.
Protesters are picking sides as rockets fly
Sir, – Over the last 18 months I have waited in vain for the usual groups who say they are interested in peace in the Middle East to demonstrate against the mass killings in Syria.
After the deaths of 30,000, most of whom were innocent civilians, including women and children, there has been a deafening silence.
Now when Israel, with all its faults, retaliates to the hundreds of rockets fired from Gaza, there are demonstrations in Scottish cities.
I would ask the demonstrating groups, including the Stop The War Coalition, if they only act when Israel or the West are involved in conflict.
If we want peace in the Middle East, we cannot pick and choose whom we condemn for killing, and often torturing, innocent civilians.
James McDougall.Teapot Lane,Inverkeilor.
Progress, but at what cost?Sir, – As a person who has had the privilege of working since the late 60s, I cannot understand the need for financial growth.
We, as a nation, experienced growth throughout the 60s and 70s, leading to excessive prices, the main one being property.
I can remember entering the property market in 1975 when the cost of a three-bedroomed terrace house in Dundee was £8,000, a reasonable sum considering my wages at that time were in the region of £3,500.
We have since entered a new era of prices where property, for example, has hit the roof. So, why do we need constant growth?
If the economy was to flat-line, the man in the street could go about his business in the utopic knowledge nothing was increasing so there was no need for his income to.
If anyone out there can answer my question, I would be glad to hear their opinion.
Willie Robertson.Forest Park Cottage,Lynton, Stanley.
Better uses for station funds
Sir, – Admirable it may be, but it is folly to spend £14 million on remodelling Dundee railway station in these days of austerity.
The station is perfectly able to function as it is and if there is that amount of money available it should be spent on upgrading housing, roads, flood control, a new bridge over the Tay above Perth and similar projects.
If there is £1 million available from the Scottish Government that would be a big help to Comrie, for a start. I hope there will be a rethink of priorities and this project will be put on the back burner until the economy improves.
W. Graham Watson.Spoutwells Drive,Scone.
Governing for the people
Sir, – Is the government sliding into an advisory role, rather than the executive one for which it was elected?
An apparent example of where this seems to be the case is the ‘recommendation’ to all electricity and gas providers to reduce the number of tariff options and charges.
Surely, with the UK just out of recession, the government should take direct control of such utilities to ensure reduced charges, taking effective, executive action towards stimulating the economy.
Kenneth Miln. Fothringham Drive, Monifieth.
The kindness of strangers
Sir, ““ I have to express my thanks to the honest person who found a mobile phone at the level crossing in Broughty Ferry and handed it in to the police.
My brother, who was visiting that week and must have dropped it on the way to catch his train, is delighted to have it back.
So, whoever you are, thank you very much.
Chris Davey.Camperdown Street, Broughty Ferry.