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May 5: Legacy of Perthshire policy of toilet neglect

May 5: Legacy of Perthshire policy of toilet neglect

Today’s scribes discuss their opinions on subjects such as PKC toilet provision, evolution and faith, and John Swinney makes a correction on merged police forces.

Sir, With reference to your report about the former toilets in Mill Street, Perth, I disagree that these were sub-standard.

But they did fall victim to Perth and Kinross Council’s major review of toilet provision throughout the whole of the area some years ago and its consideration of unstaffed and automatic toilets and private and public-sector comfort schemes.

The plain exterior gave way to toilets that sparkled from head to foot and pleasant staff who were a credit to the council and the town and who filled the facility with vases of fresh flowers purchased at their own cost.

As the councillor for the Mill Street area in the halcyon days of one councillor-one ward, both locals and visitors regularly voiced their appreciation of the facility which goes to prove that little, gracious touches of life and attention to detail go a long way to positively promote a community just as much as things on a grander and more glamorous scale.

Whomsoever takes over the building is to be wished well so long as it does not involve the sale of alcohol as this corner of Perth is already awash with licensed premises.

Joan McEwen.Hospital Street,Perth.Consultation on police forcesSir, Your report on the NFUS hustings, published on May 3, indicated that I had argued for a single police force in Scotland. That was not the case.

I set out the unsustainability of eight police forces and said that the SNP Government was consulting on the question of whether there should be a single national police force or a regional structure.

The time to decide on the appropriate way forward is when the consultation comes to an end.

John Swinney.SNP Candidate for Perthshire North.Fools gold of wind powerSir, George Lindsay (May 3) is correct in being so cynical about Alex Salmond’s support for and from the manufacturers of wind turbines.

Mr Salmond’s silence on the criticisms made, at the same time, by a number of engineering and scientific experts in the field is just another indictment of his obduracy and stubbornness in the face of the limited reality of what renewables have to offer Scotland.

If Scotland is to obtain prosperity it will not be found in the fools gold of wind power and, right now, we, the public, are being fooled, by the political elite into paying gold to a handful of landowners and developers.

Ron Greer.Armoury HouseBlair Atholl.Solid evidence for evolutionSir, That Paul Read should end his letter (May 3) with a false dichotomy and straw man fused into one creation versus blind chance is unsurprising considering the level of ignorance he flaunts in the rest of his anti-evolution piece.

That we now have a whole family of hominids strengthens, not weakens, the case for our common ancestry with other apes a case confirmed by the astonishing similarities between our and their DNA.

Creationist arguments about biochemical complexity and the origins of life have been repeatedly exposed as vacuous.

And Mr Read clearly does not understand science if he thinks theories about past events do not qualify. Perhaps he thinks geology, archaeology and cosmology are not science either.

It is more reasonable to accept overwhelming evidence from multiple branches of science that we have evolved by a non-random process over millions of years, than to attribute it all to magic.

(Dr) Stephen Moreton.33 Marina Avenue,Great Sankey,Warrington.Problems with creation storySir, I tend to go along with the gist of Paul Read’s letter (May 3) Problems with Evolution the question of a creator and designer, rather than blind chance. However, a problem still exists. How did the designer and creator come into being?

Perhaps the genesis of the creator is too difficult for we humans to answer at our present stage of evolution.

So are we just opting for blind faith until science can provide definitive answers?

Kenneth Miln.22 Fotheringham Drive,Monifieth.In defence of Angus faithfulSir, I am appalled at the assertions made in the letter from Ernest Powrie (April 30). How dare he say that the people of Kirriemuir and Brechin feel the Bible is outdated. I am outraged.

On what does he base these assertions? I was filled with disbelief and fury at his accusations.

Mr Powrie claimed it is a “mystery” why some in the area continue to attend church.

Mystery is at the centre of the Christian faith and Mr Powrie would do well to show tolerance because the people of Kirriemuir are his neighbours.

Some of the troubles in the world today stem from extremism and a lack of acceptance of other points of view.

My husband and I have given the last 20 years of our life in the work of the church in this town and our great motivation is the belief in the relevance of the Gospel in today’s world and our love for other people, whether or not we agree with them.

We have been humbled and touched by the deep conviction of faith expressed in personal contact with individuals at life-changing moments of their lives.

The Church of Scotland is a broad church which welcomes all who seek to know more and recognises that people learn at different speeds. We are all on a mystery tour but inspired, quietly, by the hope our Christian faith brings.

Christine Rooney.20 Strathmore Avenue,Kirriemuir.

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.