This morning our readers discuss the proposed Dundee cab cap, British overseas aid, faith and tolerance, pleasant changes and student housing in St Andrews.
Taxi-plate auction would be ‘collar’ on drivers Sir, My letter (February 11) comparing Dundee MSP Joe FitzPatrick’s evidence from Edinburgh in support of capping taxi numbers with his dismissal of the inconvenient views of a driver from the capital was neatly followed by correspondence (February 12) from Wayne Casey of the England-only National Taxi Association, who cited official advice in support of a cap which states that “locals are best placed” to decide their transport requirements.
Clearly, both these gentlemen enjoy a fine sense of irony. However, Mr Casey is presumably being a tad selective regarding his own jurisdiction, since Westminster’s Department for Transport regards unrestricted taxi markets as “best practice.”
Moreover, Mr Casey does not mention that he is currently advocating a change in the law in order that a limited number of taxi licences can be auctioned off to alleviate the funding crisis in local government.
That could indeed raise a substantial sum for local government coffers in Dundee say 300 plates at £30,000 each but clearly this would exclude many current licence holders in the city.
Thus, drivers would either be working to pay off a substantial loan or those excluded by the auction process would be forced into paying grossly inflated rentals to hire a plated vehicle, as indeed is the norm in many English cities.
There, plates are bought and sold for tens of thousands of pounds, which, in fact, the DfT describes as “very hard to justify.”
How this would address Mr Casey’s concern for driver welfare and public safety is anyone’s guess. Indeed, I believe in places like Liverpool a rental of this type is called a “collar.”
Stuart Winton.Hilltown,Dundee.
Selling out United Kingdom
Sir, As a nation we are broke. Unable to fund pensions and libraries or to defend ourselves. Yet our government still throws money into the Third World.
In the past month, some £500 million has been disbursed by the Department of International Development to people whose general attitude works against British interests.
Last year’s general election was clearly a waste of time. The replacement for Labour seems to have come from a parallel universe.
Malcolm Parkin.15 Gamekeepers Road,Kinnesswood,Kinross.
Faith and tolerance
Sir, As an evangelical Christian, surprisingly I concur with what Dr Stephen Moreton said in his letter about people making up their own minds as regards their faith (February 14).
However, I have met one young man who was almost disowned by his parents, who were extreme atheists, when he became a Christian.
Extremism is not only the remit of religious groups.
Note I said religious groups, because atheism itself is a faith based on the precept that God does not exist.
Also, extreme atheism was the driving force behind Pol Pot, Stalin and Hitler.
So, extremism in any system is dangerous. However, I do not believe all atheists are mass murderers.
The usual red herring of creationism and superstition is also thrown into the mix.
My wife, who has a PhD in astrophysics, is a devout Christian and is anything but superstitious.
She also believes in evolution as do I.
John Montgomery.24 March Crescent,Cellardyke.
Antidote to political strife
Sir, Your Weekend article (February 12) in connection with the illustrator Ian Kennedy was fully justified.
It was a pleasure to read the article and view examples of the paintings produced by this talented artist who resides in a small village.
Mr Kennedy has obviously brought so much pleasure to many generations.
Mr Kennedy appears to have kept a low profile over all these years, but has still won respect and admiration.
The article was a pleasant change to reading about politicians and their troubles.
Harry Lawrie.35 Abbots Mill,Kirkcaldy.
HMO banwould hit families
Sir, We read with disappointment your article Preservation Trust fears St Andrews student enclave (February 12).
It is not for Mr Middleton to say when student demand has been met. This year, halls of residence are at capacity, and half of all students applying to return were denied a place.
In any case, students are adults, entitled to decide where and with whom they live and how much they pay. They should not be expected simply to move into university accommodation.
No other group in society is expected to cohabit en masse for the sake of simplicity.
We would welcome family housing in St Andrews, but it is simply naive to insist that such developments will automatically flourish when plans for student flats are vetoed.
A House in Multiple Occupation ban would actually be a worst-of-all-worlds policy, pushing student buy-to-let demand into the outer residential zone where families actually want to live.
Fife Council would also have to build affordable housing on new-build sites. But, since the trustees support the Green Belt, they would probably object.
We need to move beyond anodyne, misleading rhetoric and discuss real solutions.
Owen Wilton and Siena Parker.Students’ Association,St Mary’s 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.