Sir, Your editorial on Saturday regarding Dundee Airport is perhaps the most hard-headed commentary which I have read in recent years into the continuing sad history of that facility.
I sincerely wish a viable airport for the city could become a reality, but remain convinced the present site can never truly realise a successful commercial future.What did surprise me, in the same edition, was your business editor’s statement that Dundee was “not on EasyJet’s radar”.
Well, given that the Easy Jet fleet operates Airbus 319-100s and 320-200s, seating 156 and 180 passengers respectively, there is no real surprise there.
It would be an enterprising and cavalier pilot that would seek to land such an aircraft at Riverside!
The contrast drawn with Inverness was also interesting. Like Dundee, Inverness does not boast a metropolitan population, but it does have an international airport facility at Dalcross and that makes for a major critical difference which in turn is a major attraction to low-cost operators.
The business case for the development of a restrictive Riverside site was weak from the outset and the depressing passenger statistics over the years surely support the view that its days are numbered and we must reluctantly accept the cold economic reality and think again.
G C Romanowski. 25 Blake Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee.
Opportunity missed
Sir, I read with despair that Leuchars will be confirmed as an army base by 2015. Here was an opportunity for this region, along with Fife, Kinross and Perthshire to grasp a ready-made runway and develop it into an international airport of some standing.
We, as Scots, are pushing for independence, but I feel we are The Land of the Little People. Our leaders have little vision, little imagination and little courage. So there is no prospect of establishing an international airport in this area.
We have St Andrews, the home of golf, Carnoustie, the most difficult test of links golf in the world, Dundee, with the new V&A coming which will put us on the tourist map and we also have Angus, Perthshire and Fife which have so much to offer to prospective visitors from all around the world.
Are our public officials really so blind to the potential we have on our own doorstep? I’m sure if they all put their heads together they could find some way of securing funds to make Leuchars an airport that would bring in a lot of business to the area.
A B Glen. Moorside, Montrose Road, Gowanbank, Forfar.
Too little,too late
Sir, I was appalled to read of the latest example of animal cruelty, this time on an Alyth farm. The scale of neglect is almost unbelievable.
What angers me more, though, is the fact that although the farm was “being monitored”, action by SSPCA was too little too late.
Why is it that, all too frequently, those who have the power to prevent animal cruelty and neglect, seem to dither when it comes to early intervention?
Will nobody today take responsibility for making these hard but necessary decisions? This is a disgrace and we should be ashamed if we know what’s going on and do nothing about it.
Another problem is that the present system of animal welfare is far too fragmented and needs tightening up. Too many cases of neglect are being left to voluntary organisations to sort out.
All livestock owners have a duty to care for their sheep, cattle, pigs, horses etc and the great majority do. Sadly, increasing numbers of cases slip through the net.
Bob Smart. 55 Bellevue Gardens, Arbroath.
Time to strike realistic note
Sir, I read your article about the proposed development of Oudenarde village at Bridge of Earn (School will ‘kickstart’ masterplan, January 17), which was factual and progressive, but I feel I must comment in a slightly depressive manner which is against my usual optimistic approach. The reason is quite simple.
Due to the depressed housing market and poor financial climate, the school will not be built until there are enough houses and children to make it viable from a building and running costs perspective, so no date or time of occupancy can be determined despite the education committee confirming the financial package as shown in the report to committee.
I regret bringing disappointing news but feel, as a local councillor for the old and new wards, I must be realistic in my comments.
Councillor Alan Jack. Independent, Ward 9 Almond and Earn, Perth 7 Kinross Council.
Horseplay
Sir, Surely the two guys in a pantomime horse who trotted along to a Welsh Tesco store’s beef burger aisle shouting “where’s my mum?” deserve a gong for services to national fun?
Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.