Sir, – I’m starting to think Councillor Brown doth protest too much (March 26).
I think if I was in his position I would be embarrassed and wouldn’t be bringing so much attention to myself. I understand there are stringent rules to be followed by all elected members to protect us, the residents and council tax payers, from fraudulent practices, which used to be well-known among certain councillors.So if all councillors did as Councillor Brown did, we would be in a bad situation. They are quite often reported to the Standards Commission and when they are innocent they are acquitted.However, that isn’t what happened to Councillor Brown and I think The Courier should have researched the situation rather than taking his word for it.Councillor Brown is one of four councillors representing me. I’m not sure I’d be trusting him with any personal details after this.I wonder what he’d be saying if any of the other three had done the same thing.If any SNP councillors were to have broken the rules would they be getting such a free hand in your newspaper to report such a one-sided rant?I think not.Ian Dickson,30A North Loch Road,Forfar.School memoriesSir, – Alan MacDougal’s letter (March 29) brought back memories of when I attended Johnstone High, Renfrewshire, in 1942, when a similar system was used on transferring pupils from the feeder primary schools to the High.Based on the results of the then 11+ exams, pupils allocated to an A class were taught Latin and French along with the other basic subjects, B classes had French and a choice of woodwork or a technical subject, C classes had both woodwork and technical.I can’t remember where those allocated to classes D and E went.I was allocated to an A class and must have done well as I attended Loughborough College and Nottingham University several years later, after completing extended National Service due to the Korean War.Robert M Patterson,47, Main Street,Strathkinness.Doing more to clean the beachSir, – May I draw attention to the disgusting state of Broughty Ferry beach, beside which I live.It is, according to a recent survey, Dundee’s third-most important visitor attraction so we look after it, don’t we?The answer is no.Over the winter I have removed numerous sacks of rubbish, including used nappies, sanitary towels and funeral urns.There were miles of plastic ropes, plastic matting, broken lobster pots and fishing nets some too large to move.Last week the council awoke to its duties one man and a tractor removed some of the trees and larger items.Yesterday I inspected the beach and found it is still in a disgusting condition. What is needed is a proper effort with teams of people with litter sticks and bags.If we cannot afford this why not use people on community service orders, or prisoners in chain gangs if necessary.I have decided that Scotland is a beautiful country inhabited by dirty, lazy people.England is no better, judging by recent visits.The attitude “I’m a good person I don’t drop litter” is no longer good enough.Be a better person and pick up other people’s litter, like I and a few other pensioners do.Jack Greenway,9B The Esplanade,Broughty Ferry.It is families that raise childrenSir, – In 1996 Hillary Clinton famously pushed the line “it takes a village to raise a child”, but that is in fact “bien-pensant” code for letting the state usurp the role of the parents.The truth is it takes a family to raise a child, but the secular left has always disliked this idea and much prefers the all-knowing and all-wise state to “properly” raise children.Dictators often declare war against the family unit because getting access to children while undermining parental rights and influence is a surest way to cement tyranny.So the SNP’s Children and Young People Act, establishing a universal surveillance system for every Scots child and associated adult, is going where angels usually fear to tread.Nicola Sturgeon may have the best of intentions, but she should be aware that polls show the vast majority of Scots parents believe her plan is “an unacceptable intrusion”.Rev Dr John Cameron,10 Howard Place,St AndrewsTime to move Travellers onSir, – I find it very strange that Angus Council has served eviction notices on 20 static home owners at the South Links caravan park (March 28), with its spokesman stating it was doing so “ to comply with relevant legislation and to protect Angus Council and the park”.If Angus Council is so keen to use its legal powers, obviously when it suits them, can it please explain publicly why it does not use the powers given it by the Civil Government (Scotland) Act 1982, sect. 112, clause 118a to stop the illegal encampment of Travellers, as I explained in my letter published in the Courier at the beginning of last month.At that time there were two caravans parked on the Links and now there are at least 20.The Council states the council is “monitoring the position in accordance with policy and procedures”.Why does it not stop procrastinating and use the above bylaw to solve the ongoing problem once and for all.Knowing how quickly the council moves, however , I will not be holding my breath to see it taking the relevant action.John M Page,8 Panter Crescent,Montrose.Staying in EU is bad for the youngSirs, – I was appalled but not surprised by the latest scaremongering manipulative tactics to keep Britain shackled to the EU by Nicky Morgan.This time she is trying to influence younger people by claiming a Brexit would have a negative impact on young people’s opportunities in life.What utter nonsense.As a passionate Leave Europe voter for many years I am convinced staying in Europe will damage young people’s chances in life.With the uncontrolled immigration from Europe, Britain is unable to check the criminal records of those arriving, putting young people at risk of serious crime.When immigrants arrive in vast numbers, young people are going to find it increasingly difficult to find employment, they will also find it difficult to acquire social housing.Finally young people will have increased waiting times to access overstretched services.Remaining in Europe will only make matters worse for young people.Gordon Kennedy,117 Simpson Square,Perth.It’s time to forget Pipeland optionSir, – Fife’s Leader David Ross still maintains Pipeland is the only suitable available site meeting council’s, pupils’ and teachers’ aspirations.What proper survey of Madras teachers’ opinions was conducted on his take-it-or-leave-it “choice”?The Court demolished his aspirational single-site definition, with one judge suggesting the petitioner’s case could have been more broadly-based.Since 2012, not one positive feature exclusive to Pipeland has been advanced hence, Councillor Thomson’s previous promotion of North Haugh and Councillor Poole’s damning dismissal of Pipeland in June 2012.Imagine a debate: “The positive advantages exclusive to Pipeland, for Madras College through the 21st Century, outweigh its disadvantages” (for education, sport, university-contact, travel, planning, environment, congestion, pollution, safety, access, construction, drainage, delivery, hospital/hospice impact, community-use, adult-education, initial cost, Audit Scotland’s lifetime-vest value).What credible points could they make?Respecting the court’s opinion, they cannot claim North Haugh/Station Park, with a bridge or underpass is “split” as its 10 pitches are not alongside the building, but two minutes’ walk away, whereas Pipeland is a single-site, despite its right-of-way splitting the building from its six pitches, plus its continued need for Kinburn, Links and probably Station Park, and its distance from increasingly-valued, Holyrood-promoted university synergies all these a-mile-and-a-half away.John Birkett,12 Horseleys Park,St. Andrews,