Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Cameron Community Council deserves credit for its meeting, Is Wind the Answer?, at St Andrews Town Hall on March 1, but they were not well-served by two of their guest speakers.
Also, a sizeable block of students engaged in mild but still discourteous barracking, and were incapable of asking a concise question without first making a speech.
They then marched out en masse, but several remained at the door to continue their interruptions.
Struan Stevenson MEP was far too strident, indulging in excessive anti-Salmond polemics, instead of explaining dispassionately the solid practical reasons for doubt about wind turbines.
He then unwisely labelled the students as “rentamob”, and even shouted down a student trying to make the valid if marginal point that the wind itself is free.
The engineer Derek Birkett (no relation) could have been a persuasive “independent” advocate, with a lifetime’s experience in electricity generation, but he pitched his speech as if to a boardroom rather than a hall of 500.
He was hesitant, difficult to hear, and too abstrusely technical for a public meeting; his slides were too small for most of us to see the data, and far too numerous, so he very quickly lost his audience.
If the university really values its 600 years of intellectual exploration, rigorous academic debate and good town/gown relations, it should have the courage to hold a public meeting in its largest hall, addressed by its own staff from the relevant disciplines advocating both sides of the argument.
It and its students might be surprised at how many sceptics it employs.
John Birkett.12 Horseleys Park,St Andrews.
How would they fund new school?
Sir, – I was interested to read the comments made by the Tory leader in Fife regarding the future of Madras College.
Despite the argument for a Tay Bridgehead school being exposed some time ago as being unaffordable and unsound from an educational standpoint, the Tories still appear to think that Madras operating over two sites, a considerable number of miles apart, makes good economic and educational sense. It doesn’t.
What we all need to hear, however, is how the Tories would fund such an escapade.
In their latest budget proposals they thought it would be prudent to take millions out of Fife’s education service. Perhaps the plan is that every other school and some of the most disadvantaged children in Fife will pay to see their Tay Bridgehead dream come true?
Although the severe educational cuts they wanted less than a month ago appeared to simply meet their budget shortfall and not fund a land purchase and the building of a new school in the Tay Bridgehead area.
(Cllr) Douglas Chapman.Convener, Education andChildren’s ServicesCommittee,Fife Council.
Weary of these daily attacks
Sir, – I am getting a little weary of the almost daily personal attacks on Alex Salmond and indeed anyone who remotely supports independence.
True independence isn’t just about economics alone.
We in Scotland have for many years seen our language, customs,music under constant attack by the Westminster Parliament and media.
Turn on television and we are bombarded with English soaps and music, news etc.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to find a programme whether news or light entertainment with a true Scottish content.
Remember a nation that loses its traditions loses its soul!
Peter Bell.11 Murton Road,Arbroath.
‘Cauld kail’ still on the menu
Sir, – The Labour Party in Scotland has just finished its spring conference and sadly the ‘cauld kail’ that saw them decisively defeated in the May 2011 Holyrood election is still the main course.
With much Nat-bashing in evidence Johann Lamont stated: “Devolution can’t just mean powers going from London to Edinburgh.”
I wonder which powers that the Scottish Parliament currently has she would consider reserving back to David Cameron’s Tories in Westminster?
At this time, when everything from Child Benefit to Disability Benefits are being threatened by the Con-Dem coalition, it is no wonder people trust the Scottish National Party to protect them.
Whilst the Labour Party postures over protecting society’s most vulnerable, Johann Lamont wants to hand more powers to Westminster which would leave Scots even more vulnerable to Tory attacks.
Kevin Cordell.2 Nevis Place,Broughty Ferry,Dundee.
Can fight, marry and die!
Sir, – With regard to George K. McMillan’s remarks about 16 and 17-year-olds having no knowledge of history or politics etc may I remind him that there are many great debating societies in schools comprised of 16 and 17-year-olds and younger?
Also, does he need reminding that at 16 a person may join the forces to fight and die for their country, or marry and have a family?
Norman D. Galloway.102 Dunbeath Drive,Glenrothes.
Wave not wind
Sir, – Re the Trump/wind turbine saga and windmill blade reflection affecting golfers.
Why can’t there be a compromise to use wave power when installing generators at sea? These can supply power 24 hours a day, unlike turbines which, of course, require the wind to blow.
A. A. Stewart.7 Bearehill Glebe,Brechin.
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.