Today’s letters to The Courier.
Minister stretching his credibility to the limitSir, Defence Secretary Liam Fox looks us straight in the eye and says a few unfortunate coincidences occurred. Your readers only have to ask themselves: “In the last 18 months, how many times has my best friend visited me at my work place, just for a wee chat?” If you can answer more than 22, you can proceed to the next level of the game. Next, your reader has to ask himself: “In the same period, how many times has this same best pal, turned up just out of the blue?” Again, if you can answer 18 or more you are well on your way to a career as a politician. I despair.
John Henderson,Roebrek,Linross,Glamis.Divide cake more equitablySir, The letter from Mr Bob Drysdale suggesting a reduced working week (October 8) is something I too believe to be a large part of the solution to the problems of our world. The world is a finite resource (like a cake) with an ever increasing population (like party goers). Surely it is obvious that if everyone is to enjoy a slice of cake then the slices must be thinner for everyone to have some. I do realise that those with most cake want to keep it that way, but in the end it makes them obese and causes starvation elsewhere. We have seen that self- regulation does not work in government departments, in the police force, local government or the British Army, so we cannot hope that they are going to put things right if it means less for them.
D. Ogilvy.Market Street,Perth.Control influx to save jobsSir, The recent report that highlighted the tragedy of Scottish unemployment was published at the same time as the figure of those seeking employment in the new Asda store in Forfar: 2,500 applying for 200 available jobs. Almost unbelievable. While jobless figures show 8% without a job, during the three months to August this year, another 7,000 Scots were being made redundant. Youth unemployment is now running at 21.3%, more than one in five of 16 to 24-year-olds. All this is going on while the SNP wants immigration controls abolished. That too is unbelievable. Only by withdrawing from the EU will we be able to control the influx
George Cormack.McLauchlan Rise,Aberdour.Fuel for suspicion in BlairgowrieSir, Despite being fewer than 20 miles from either Perth or Dundee, and even fewer from Scone, it seems Tesco is determined to make the inhabitants of Blairgowrie pay a premium for fuel. There is currently a 4p price differential between the pump price in Blairgowrie and that of Perth or Dundee. Can anyone from Tesco explain this? Surely it cannot cost this amount per litre to transport the fuel an extra 20 miles. Is this just another example of Tesco taking advantage of their dominance in the town to drive up (no pun intended) the cost of living in East Perthshire?
Ian Goodfellow.Hawthorn Place,Blairgowrie.Easier to ignore consultationsSir, Councillor Peter Grant makes some interesting points in his letter (October 11). He attempts to justify the manner in which a decision was taken on the name for the new sports and leisure facility being built in Glenrothes. He suggests that I should have ensured the outcome of the public survey was “binding”, if I had wanted it to be meaningful. It is regrettable that the apparent consensus reached at ward level meetings became meaningless at the decision-making stage, but maybe he has a point. If I had known then what I now know, I could have suggested that the recommendation be reworded: “. . . to help gauge the views of the public . . . and then discard those views.” Perhaps he’s drawing our attention to something which seems to have become a habit: ignoring the outcome of public consultation. He observes that it is easy to gauge the views of the public, suggesting that the SNP/Lib-Dem coalition need never again waste time and money on asking people what they think. After all, it’s so much cheaper and quicker to tell them what they think. I’m very happy about the prospect of a news sports and leisure centre and it is bound to be an improvement. I worked with Councillor Mike Woods for many years. Continuing to wrangle over the building’s name is disrespectful to a much-loved local politician and his family.
(Cllr) Kay Morrison.Fife Council.Glenrothes.Monifieth wedding was brilliantSir, Earlier this year The Courier reported the proposed sale of Panmure Hotel in Monifieth. My husband and I had booked the hotel in August 2010 for our daughter’s wedding in July this year. Months of uncertainty about the future of the hotel were very worrying. Our fears, however, were unnecessary. Every aspect of the wedding and our stay was perfect. Thanks to all, and very best wishes for continued success.
Heather and Colin Bell.13 Sidlaw Terrace,Birkhill.
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.