Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir,-For many years, I have enjoyed reading Jim Crumley’s articles. However, in today’s piece (July 26) he makes generalised accusations which have hurt me, and I suspect other farming readers, deeply.
Mr Crumley writes about the proposed cull of badgers in specific areas in England aimed at stopping the spread of Bovine TB.
I have no scientific knowledge of the rights and wrongs of the proposed cull, only of the desperate heartache of fellow farmers who have lost their livestock to this disease and the costs to the UK taxpayer of removing Bovine TB-infected cattle from herds.
The comments that have caused me to feel Mr Crumley has got carried away with emotional rhetoric are those which infer that farmers care only for their bank balances and not for the natural world in which they work.
Mr Crumley must acknowledge the work which many of us in the farming community have undertaken over the last 20 or so years to right the wrongs of the past and attempt to provide “wild places” on our land by planting hedges, leaving field margins, creating ponds and small woodlands.
Some of this work has been done with the help of grants but much has also been done by farmers out of their own pockets because they realise that a healthy biodiversity means a healthy farm, and also because they actually like the “nature” within which they work.
He suggests removing the cows instead of badgers. I presume therefore he is happy to have all his milk and beef imported from places which care less for their livestock welfare than we do and also may still use products banned in this country.
Gill Lawrie.Newton of Arbirlot,Abroath.
Who is really the killer?
Sir.-So a gamekeeper tells us that “foxes are not the cute and cuddly animals that some people think they are, they are killers.” What about us?
We breed game birds for fun, so we can kill them in what is considered a “sport”. Are we not on a par with the fox who appeared to have killed the pheasants as sport?
A case of the pot calling the kettle black, I think.
Mona Clark.9 Millbay Terrace,Dundee.
Perplexed by petitions
Sir,-Setting aside the issue of the incinerator in Perth, which has sparked a lot of interesting debate in your letters page of late, Perth and Kinross Access Group would welcome an open discussion on how Perth and Kinross Council views petitions and on the efficacy of its consultation processes.
PKAG believed that when they asked members of the public to sign a petition last year that those voices would be heard. However, though we had over 400 signatures on our petition it was given the weight of one vote, whereas the main grouping likely to be opposed to our petition was sent an official consultation document, as were their representative organisations.
This meant they received over 500 consultation documents over 500 chances to respond and have their vote counted (though only 75 chose to do so).
In fact the whole consultation process was shockingly un-academic and unsettlingly random.
We referred the matter to MSP Roseanna Cunningham, who was as dismayed as we were to find that petitions are given the weighting of one vote and sought written clarification.
Ms Cunningham acknowledged that the procedure left a lot of leeway to the person chairing the committee.
Surely this leaves the system open to abuse, where some people’s petitions will carry more weight because of who they are and whether or not the convener is in favour?
A better idea would be to change standing orders.
Raine Du Puy.Perth and Kinross Access Group.
Missing in Carnoustie
Sir,-The lack of dog waste bins in Carnoustie has become more apparent.
With the golf course being made ready for the Women’s Open, I decided to walk my dog along Barry Road and up to Greenhill Barry where I bagged my dog’s waste and continued looking out for a dog bin.
Our walk took us though Barry, to the old part of Station Road and on down to Barry Station and then to the cycle track heading back towards Carnoustie.
It was only when I reached the practice area of the golf course did we come to a dog waste bin.
The council spends money on revamping signs on the roads in to the town that don’t say anything about the town itself.
But when the grass and bushes are full of waste bags it’s not signs that are needed.
James Salmond.76 Brown Street,Carnoustie.
Distant rumble preferable
Sir,-I would like to respond to Allan Ireland’s letter (July 23) about Barry Buddon ranges.
Firstly, the residents of Leuchars are losing fast jet traffic that occurred on an almost daily basis, together with helicopters and transport planes.
Given that the base is not being closed but likely to end up with a bigger population than at present, I’m sure they would happily trade the plane noise for the distant rumble of gunfire from ranges on the east side of the base.
Surely the sound of gunfire, from whatever location, is a small price to pay for allowing our serving troops the opportunity to practise the skills that may ultimately save lives in Afghanistan?
The weapons used at Barry Buddon have not become more powerful over the years. In simple terms, smaller calibre, smaller bang.
Mortar and grenade rounds remain broadly unchanged.
Mike Hibberd.33 Oak Loan,Ballumbie,Broughty Ferry.
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.