Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Six months ago, along with 450 other local people, I attended a public meeting in Blairgowrie to voice our concerns about the future of Blairgowrie Cottage Hospital.
At this meeting we were assured that there would be no further changes made to service at Blairgowrie Community Hospital without prior consultation with the local community. A focus group was to be formed to discuss any “significant change” acting as a sounding board and disseminating information to the wider public through published minutes.
It was therefore with great concern that I became aware that the hospital currently has only 12 occupied beds and that a large ward, which held nine beds, has been closed for several weeks. I would call this a “significant change”.
To date, I am unaware of any focus group being set up and have certainly never seen any published minutes of this group, having sought such information on the NHS website.
At the public meeting we were also assured that £750,000 was being made available to modernise current facilities. What progress has been made in these developments?
The Blairgowrie Cottage Hospital provides an essential range of services to the local community with an exemplary standard of nursing care.
The Strathmore Wing of the hospital appeared to be closed through a policy of closure by stealth.
The public do not wish to see the same thing happening to the cottage hospital.
Rhona Kirkpatrick.Perth Road,Blairgowrie.
Change of attitude towards lighting
Sir, – David Moncur’s attack on the work my husband Cory Campbell has done to help improve safety in and around Baxter Park sickens me.
Mr Moncur should remember that he himself wrote to The Courier about safety patrols in Baxter Park on August 5 2011 and clearly stated: “As far as lighting is concerned, no-one would deny that it would be a good idea.”
He was right lighting for Baxter Park is a good idea. But now that Dundee City Council has provided some safety lighting for the park after listening to the residents, Tayside Police and Historic Scotland, Mr Moncur looks upon this people power success story as an attack on his precious SNP.
The man can only be described as a hypocrite.
Mrs Lisa Campbell.North Lodge,Baxter Park,Dundee.
Watchmakers suffer no harm
Sir, – The hands and numbers of many vintage watches and military dials were painted with a phosphorescent compound mixed with radium which made them glow in the dark.
At the end of the Second World War aircraft were dismantled at Donibristle airfield which was later decommissioned and Dalgety Bay built over it. Dials were removed and incinerated and, along with rubble from the runways and other building material, it was used to help reclaim and extend the coastline.
Traces of radioactivity were found in 1990 and since then intermittent surveys have been carried out.
Though observable with sensitive devices the danger to humans is negligible and watchmakers have been repairing such instruments for decades without harm.
Dr John Cameron.10 Howard Place,St Andrews.
Speed cut will make life safer
Sir, – D. Beveridge (letters, November 23) says he cannot see the benefit of a lower speed limit on Dundee’s Riverside Drive.
My postbag indicates many of my constituents who live in the area absolutely see the benefits of cutting the speed limit to 40mph.
There are currently no proper crossings on the 50mph stretch of Riverside Drive or Riverside Avenue, despite significant numbers of pedestrians trying to cross this very busy road.
D. Beveridge states that 10mph “isn’t going to make much difference”. This is wrong 10mph can be the difference between injury and fatality in terms of accidents involving pedestrians.
Cllr Fraser Macpherson.City Chambers, Dundee.
Good riddance to an eyesore
Sir, – I’m sorry to read, re Perth City Hall, that Robert Booth has his head in his hands at the “unfolding tragedy for Scotland’s heritage”.
For my own part I’m smiling cheerfully at the prospect of Perth finally being rid of an ugly monstrosity of limited historic importance which for over a century has obscured one of Scotland’s truly historic buildings, St John’s Kirk.
I only wish St Paul’s Church could go the same way.
(Dr) David B. Griffiths.41 Haston Crescent,Perth.
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.