Today’s letters to The Courier.
CityJet London fares prohibitively expensive Sir,-Michael Collins is to be commended for coming to Dundee to explain the strategy behind CityJet’s air service between Dundee and London City.
But actually all he has done is to challenge air travellers in this area to “use it or lose it”.
I would suggest that, on this basis, the service will not survive for long.
I travel to London about 12 times each year both on business and leisure.
Although I have continually researched the Dundee to London airfare, I have never used the service. It is too expensive.
To give you an example, I am travelling to London at the beginning of the second week in October.
The comparison of return airfares on exactly the same days, and exactly the same times, both to London City, is CityJet £204.00 from Dundee, and British Airways £96 from Edinburgh.
British Airways has eight flights per day each way and is also a full service airline, no extra costs.
And the return train fare from Dundee on the same journey would be £71.
Mr Collins argues that businesses must use the service, but he seems to not realise that business people are having to be very cost conscious.
If he really is sincere about retaining the service, he should immediately slash fares in line with what other operators already do.
There would immediately be a demand for more seats.
Andrew Gilmour.Montrave Home Farm,Leven.
Save Perth Road small shops
Sir,-As a Dundee west end resident, I write in support of local traders who are opposing plans to open a new Sainsbury’s supermarket at Hawkhill.
The Perth Road is one of the few areas of Dundee which retains a vibrant mix of shops, restaurants and bars, and plans to open yet another supermarket put this at risk.
Practically every retailer in the area would be affected by this proposal, and it is a falsehood to claim the development will bring new employment to the area when evidence shows that one job is lost within independent retailers for each one created by a supermarket.
We already have three supermarkets in the area at Riverside, Marketgait and on the Perth Road itself, so how can Sainsbury’s claim there is a deficiency of provision in the area?
Grant Hill.15 Seymour Street,Dundee.
Scotland needs more MEPs
Sir,-In answer to Neil McKinnon’s letter (July 30) I do trust he is not confusing the forthcoming referendum on Scotland’s future with that of membership of the EU.
The nomality enjoyed by the 27 member states of the EU is that they individually joined the EU by voting democratically to do so.
The people of Norway have been asked twice if they wanted to join. They said no on both occasions.
Scotland in its present state is not normal. We have six MEPs to represent a population of 5.2 million.
Estonia, with a population of 1.4 million has six MEPs as a full nation state.
After a yes vote in the referendum, full national membership of the EU will double Scotland’s current meagre representation from six to around 13.
Jim McGugan.7 The square,Letham,Angus.
Overwhelmed by charity requests
Sir,-Like millions of my fellow countrymen and women I have the deepest sympathy for people with serious illnesses and for countries hit by crises.
My wife and I try to help through charitable organisations. However, I don’t think we are alone in feeling that we are now inundated by requests for donations.
Letters and packages come in a steady stream, all with harrowing tales. Phone messages are frequent and even television has become involved.
The latest appeal is to avert famine in Somalia. First we get on-the-spot reports from hospitals and compounds showing us starving children and grown-ups dying. Then comes the appeal for help via a charity.
It seems we are expected either to raid any finance we have left in the midst of a national belt-tightening crisis or surely not stop other charitable donations and give everything to the current disaster fund.
This cannot be done when people here are worried about being able to afford heating their home properly in winter.
I know that there will be those who say my view is selfish.
They are entitled to their opinion, but I believe the time has come to stop charities overloading us with requests for money and goods and couching those requests in language which seems to say if we don’t contribute we are inhuman.
Ian Wheeler. Springfield.
Advice wanted for donors
Sir,-Yet again I read a large article (August 3) regarding the shortage of organ donors. Editorial comment featured on another page. Nowhere did it say how to register.
I have read other similar articles, and watched comment on television.
I have yet to see or hear a phone number, address or other contact. Why all the secrecy?
I know one might search on a computer, if you have one, but why put these difficulties in the way?
Dave Forsyth.112 Garvock Hill,Dunfermline.
Heading for Scotland
Sir,-I note with some concern the report (August 6) that Westboro Baptists intend to come to Scotland .
I find it disturbing and a little puzzling that this story about a tiny number of people, who represent no group in Scotland, should appear on the same day in every Scottish newspaper. Why give them the publicity they crave?
David. A. Robertson.Solas Centre,4 St Peter Street,Dundee.
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.