Today’s correspondents discuss Gordon Brown’s call for a clean-up of the beach at Dalgety Bay, the role of faith schools, a Dutch U-turn on renewable energy, the chance to support a new cancer initiative, and a possible golden opportunity for Leuchars.
Former PM late in call for Fife beach clean-up Sir,- It is a bit rich, as well as much too late in the day, for Gordon Brown (February 14), the now backbench Labour MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, to write to Liam Fox, the Tory Defence Secretary, “demanding” that clearing up work on the radioactive particles at the beach in Dalgety Bay is “speeded up.”
Any demanding or, better, ordering of action by the MoD on this issue should have taken place while he occupied the more elevated position of Prime Minister.
The radiation problem at Dalgety Bay has certainly been in the public domain for the past 25 years or so and during that time I do not recall any positive call for action from Mr Brown and especially throughout his time in high office since 1997.
However, he has been able to devote time to funding an illegal war, plotting continuously against his old adversary, Tony Blair, almost bankrupting his beloved Britain’s economy, managing to upset traditional Labour pensioner voters and also fit in writing a book or two about what a clever boy he has been.
His Scottish constituents? As usual, an afterthought.
Brian McGarry.37 Preston Crescent,Inverkeithing.
Value of faith schools
Sir,- Dr Moreton’s views on faith schools (February 12) are outdated and smack of fear of anything that deviates from his own beliefs.
Has Dr Moreton actually set foot in a faith school? He will generally find them vibrant centres of academic excellence, full of students of all faiths and none. They teach children to have a strong social conscience.
Dr Moreton’s fears of creationism being taught are laughable, as a literal interpretation of the Bible creation story is not part of the curriculum and is not even a doctrine of the Catholic church.
His claim that “Islamism” is dangerous is more disturbing. Is he trying to suggest that all Muslims are terrorists?
Most religions have produced their fair share of dangerous individuals intent on forcing their ideology on others. However, Dr Moreton need look no further than the atheist Communists of China for evidence that this is not exclusive to those of faith.
Dr Moreton seems to believe that society would be better if we were a homogenised race, sharing his personal ideology.
Harmony between people is brought about by an appreciation of each person as an individual and a fundamental belief in the dignity of each human as taught in faith schools.
Dr Moreton’s complaint about the use of taxpayers’ money to fund faith schools would suggest that having a faith makes you exempt from tax. If only that were true.
Anne Hinojosa.326 Colliston Avenue,Glenrothes.
Renewables dream has died
Sir,- Holland has now decided to abandon its renewable energy targets and terminate subsidies for wind power.
The Dutch have decided the EU diktats requiring 20% of domestic power to be produced by renewables make no environmental sense.
They also say that wind turbines cost more in subsidies than they produce and the associated engineering and maintenance problems are proving intractable.
In a radical change of policy which Scotland would do well to note, it has given the green light for the country’s first new nuclear power plant for almost 40 years.
However, they have clearly taken note of technical advances which mean the world now has 250 years of reserves of cheap shale gas, making renewables are yesterday’s folly.
(Dr) John Cameron.10 Howard Place,St Andrews.
Help meet cancer target
Sir,- Mr Ghulam Nabi, a consultant urological surgeon based at Ninewells Hospital, has suggested setting up a patient information room where patients can access information about their cancer diagnoses and treatment options, via DVDs computers, leaflets and books.
Outpatient clinics, in particular those dealing with cancer surgery referrals, are invariably very busy and consulting clinicians are often unable to fully explain everything to their worried patients, due to the short amount of allocated clinic time.
Mr Nabi is to be commended for proposing this initiative, which will be well used and appreciated by patients.
Tayside citizens have always been staunch supporters of cancer initiatives, including fund-raising. Can we help Mr Nabi reach this £500,000 target?
Jennifer Helen Allan.18 Grangehill Drive,Monifieth.
There’s life after RAF Leuchars
Sir,- Instead of neck saving by politicians over the future of RAF Leuchars, they should be looking at what is best for Fife.
It makes economic sense, if only one RAF base is to be saved, for that to be Lossiemouth. It is positioned on the northern fringe of Scotland with few alternative employment prospects.
Fife, however, will initially be hit financially if the Leuchars base were to close but it also offers a golden opportunity.
This area has a desperate need for affordable rented family and singles accommodation. A vacated armed forces establishment frees up hundreds of such homes.
Local schools and businesses would only experience a temporary blip. For St Andrews, it would mean the much-maligned and unwanted western expansion would become unnecessary.
An empty base with all of its modern facilities is certain to attract low-cost flight operators. That would bring the prospect of greater civilian employment numbers than at present.
Joseph A. Peterson.32 Kilrymont Road,St Andrews.
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