Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Your report “Action to end hospital parking problems” (February 4), does not deal with the real issue the complete seize-up of Perth Royal Infirmary’s car parks.
It was bad enough when patients and visitors had to pay for their parking, but, since free parking was introduced, it has become at times impossible to find a space anywhere. On two recent visits, I have had to park a quarter-of-a-mile away and walk back.
Some people not patients or visitors must be using the car parks now that they are free when, before, they made other arrangements rather than pay for parking.
Whatever is happening, it is totally unsatisfactory to have patients and visitors unable to find parking at all at times.
It is also unacceptable that they should be forced to inconvenience neighbouring householders by parking outside their premises, as in Hamilton Place.
Perhaps it was unwise to allow recent house-building on former open land on the periphery of the infirmary land which could have been used for a car park extension.
Whatever solution is sought, simply banishing patients’ and visitors’ cars from Hamilton Place and other neighbouring streets will not solve the core problem the inadequacy of the present car-parking arrangements at the infirmary itself.
George K. McMillan.5 Mount Tabor Avenue,Perth.
Need to look a little more carefully
Sir, – In his response to my letter concerning, amongst others, a reference to The Government Expenditure and Revenue report, G. M. Lindsay (January 26) points out what he sees as an inaccuracy in my statement regarding this report.
As in all statistics it is often more prudent to look a little more closely when interpreting data.
I deliberately avoided numerical data which is so easily misinterpreted, but since he poses the question concerning what he perceives to be Scotland’s deficit in this matter, the GERS report indicates that: over the last five years, Scotland ran a current budget surplus in four years while the UK was in deficit in each and every year.
Further, Scotland’s net fiscal deficit in 2009-10 was £14 billion (10.6% of GDP). Again this is relatively lower than the equivalent UK deficit of £157 billion (11.1% of GDP).
Scotland’s population share of UK net debt in 2009-10 is 46.3% of Scottish GDP (including geographical share of North Sea oil), compared to 52.9% of GDP for the whole of the UK.
I would hope that this might go some way towards answering G. M. Lindsay’s question regarding Scotland’s financial position relative to the rest of the United Kingdom as contained in the GERS report.
Frank Kenneth.6 Lawside Avenue,Dundee.
Believe what you like, but…
Sir – In his letter, Keep it banned (February 4) Mr John Shaw urges for a film now released to be banned again and then goes on to refer to his Christian beliefs.
Now, believe what you want to believe, but these are personal beliefs and the majority of the population probably do not share them.
It is unfair that because people like Mr Shaw do not agree with a film others should not be able to enjoy it.
I have not seen it myself but I resent people trying to enforce their beliefs on me especially when it concerns freedom of speech and infringing how I am free to choose how I live my life.
Thankfully due to our increasingly liberal and progressive society the blasphemy law was repealed in 2006 so we are not restrained by such a draconian measure.
Tom Young.261 Blackness Road,Dundee.
No vote would mean ‘no’ vote
Sir, – I find myself in agreement with your correspondent R. J. Soutar (February 4) except on one point of detail.
As Mr Salmond has a mandate for independence as expressed through the ballot box at the last election, the question to be put in the referendum should read: “Do you wish to remain part of the union?”
Those not voting would be considered to be against the proposition of remaining in the union and therefore the failure to reach Mr Soutar’s 50% quota would be the green light to commence independence negotiations.
The people of Scotland could then look forward to being responsible for their own decisions.
Ian Angus.9 Steading Place,Arbroath.
Thought winter was “stolen”
Sir, – We can all relax for a few days; the snow and ice is here at last! I was beginning to wonder what had happened to our usual UK winter. I thought maybe those global warming scaremongers and professional climate change industry multi-millionaires had stolen it.
Simon Icke.15A Long Plough,Aston Clinton, Bucks.
What a cheek!
Sir, – In response to Matthew Shelley’s comment that the Caird Hall Dalai Lama ticket fiasco was like an ‘amateur pantomime’, I wish to point out that in all the years I have been involved with amateur pantomime our ticket sales have been dealt with swiftly and competently.
And as our shows are sold out every year this may suggest they are of a slightly higher standard than he thinks. Oh yes they are!
Laura Adam.Cairnie Road,Arbroath.
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. Letters should be accompanied by an address and a daytime telephone number.