Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – It is obvious from your report on the Dundee administrative SNP leader, Ken Guild, that his astonishing and arrogant remarks relating to the foreign sourcing of steel for the new Forth bridge crossing and his insensitive remarks regarding the tragic collapse of the first Tay Rail Bridge were totally unacceptable from anyone in authority let alone our city council leader.
Had Mr Guild realised his faux pas, apologised immediately or indeed responded to this matter with some remorse and dignity, I’m sure the matter may have passed.
Sadly, it is the sort of arrogance we have come to expect from this party who, it seems, can never openly admit to being wrong about anything.
I do not profess to be an authority of the history of the Tay Rail Bridge, but was under the impression that it was an engineering design fault, laid at the feet of engineering architect Thomas Bouch, allied to some faulty iron which was at fault for the collapse. Oh yes, and a bit of a storm, of course!
If I am wrong in my assumptions, then I stand corrected and sincerely apologise.
How can Mr Guild possibly say his comments “were not suggesting in any way that Scottish steel was inferior”?
I’m sorry, I cannot read this any other way, and I dare say in the 133 years since the collapse of the bridge the Scottish and British steel industries may have made some advances.
It appears this Nationalist-awarded contract to China is a smear not only on British business, but European business, too.
Shame on you.
Ian Milne.Craigiebarn Road,Dundee.
Can’t think why it turned into such a row
Sir, – Having read your article in The Courier regarding a row over curry sauce being accidentally spilt on a customer’s coat, I understand it would be rather upsetting. However, what I do not understand is the way that the customer felt that he was treated disrespectfully.
Obviously I was not there, therefore I cannot have an opinion on this particular case. But I do have experience of a similar case when my wife had gravy spilt on her skirt at the Hotel Broughty Ferry.
We all know that accidents do happen occasionally, without blame. When my wife drew the waitress’s attention to the problem, the waitress apologised and reported the matter to the proprietor, Gerry Stewart, who was most apologetic and could not do enough to make amends.
She told my wife to get her skirt cleaned and send the bill to her, but if it did not clean successfully and to my wife’s satisfaction, she would compensate my wife, by way of paying for a new skirt. However the skirt cleaning was satisfactory. No harm done.
We have used The Broughty Ferry Hotel and found it to be an excellent establishment, with staff and owners being polite and courteous at all times. Therefore, I am at a loss to understand why the reported incident escalated into a row.
Ralph Callaghan.45 Dundee Road,Broughty Ferry.
Reprieve for City Hall?
Sir,- Pride in our regained city status should surely emphasise the essential opportunities for the Perth City Hall, adapted to allow all the functions for which it was originally intended.
Hopefully, the destructive, expensive and wasteful proposal, by a council committee, for its demolition and replacement by a Mediterranean-style piazza can now be dropped.
The adapted hall must become again the venue for so many county and city purposes civic functions for the people of our “Fair City”.
Isabel and Charles Wardrop.111 Viewlands Road West, Perth.
Jenny’s ‘attack’ on SNP
Sir, – Jenny Hjul’s article in The Courier (March 14) surprised me in its complete lack of balanced journalism.
It comes across as 100% anti-nationalism, and reads as unionist ‘propaganda’ in itself.
It derides SNP supporters at every turn ‘minions’, ‘rank and file nonsense’, ‘brainwashed’. It also seems to suggest that Courier readers are gullible and unable to form their own opinions.
It is perhaps worth remembering that the majority of Dundonians voted in an SNP council administration and may not take kindly to this sort of judgment.
Chris Johnston.Cowgate,Tayport.
Ideal for Alex
Sir, – On Wednesday (March 14), The Courier reported on the First Minister at the launch of the new film Brave, set “in a mythical Scotland”.
Who better to champion this film than Mr Alex Salmond?
Ranald Noel-Paton.Pitcurran House,Abernethy.
No surprise
Sir, – The controversial national (or political) police force seems to be going ahead but there is now a degree of debate about the appointment of the chief constable (or whatever the title will be).
I am quite sure the decision, which will be no surprise, has already been made but there will be many guidelines to ensure the political leaders are obeyed.
Big is not always beautiful or efficient.
John McDonald.Kirkcaldy.
On what basis?
Sir, – I strongly believe measures are needed to address the alcohol-related social problems in Scotland. However, I am sceptical of the claims being made in favour of minimum pricing.
It is regularly claimed the medical profession is overwhelmingly supportive, but on what basis?
Do they, or does anyone, have any proven meaningful data that shows minimum pricing, as proposed, will make any measureable difference?
G M Lindsay.Kinross.
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.