Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – What lessons can Scottish politicians learn about the publicity surrounding the case of Helen MacBeth and Jack Barr and the lack of blankets in NHS hospitals?
As David Clegg points out (Political Diary, March 24), the normally slick SNP public relations machine at Holyrood was caught on the hop last week.
It seems that when Labour focus on the plight of named individuals they are much more effective.
Usually debates about health are conducted in terms of generalities waiting lists, how often buildings are cleaned, numbers of nurses and other professionals.
On this ground the Scottish Government and its health secretary Nicola Sturgeon are usually strong. They flounder when real cases and real people are suddenly put in front of them.
In the Glenrothes by-election over three years ago, Labour used this technique to their benefit. The real issues that should be the concern of a Westminster poll were put on the back burner. Individual problems relating to charges for home care were highlighted again and again.
It worked to Labour’s advantage in the sense that it was seen to be on the side of pensioners and that the SNP were not. It was a negative campaign.
But the MacBeth/Barr case may act as a warning to the ruling party at Holyrood. The end goal of politics ought to be the welfare of individual people, not the efficiency of party machines.
Bob Taylor.24 Shiel Court,Glenrothes.
Hope voters will remember
Sir, – I congratulate the Fife councillors who last week refused applications for two windfarms at Clatto. Like their colleagues on the North East Fife and Levenmouth area committees, they had done their homework in studying the applications, examining them against Fife’s planning guidelines and interrogating the planning officer who was presenting the case for approval.
The resounding conclusion of almost all the 30 or so councillors who studied these applications is that such industrial-scale wind power development in rural Fife cannot be justified.
The question remains, however, why the SNP chair of Fife Council’s central planning committee, Councillor John Beare, strongly supported these applications. He didn’t think the multiple ways in which the proposed windfarms breached Fife’s democratically agreed planning guidelines and policies mattered.
He ridiculed those opposing turbines on Clatto Hill as wanting the pylons removed too. Beyond asserting that he saw no problems for people living close to the proposed turbines and did not consider that the turbines would damage the landscape, the chair was unable to offer any tangible reasons why the windfarms should be approved.
No one wants to politicise planning applications, but it is hard to see any explanation for Councillor Beare’s promotion of recent windfarm applications other than Alex Salmond’s aim to turn Scotland into the Saudi Arabia of renewables.
I hope voters in the upcoming local election will remind would-be councillors that their job is to safeguard the interests of the people of Fife.
Linda Holt.Dreel House,Pittenweem.
Must consider all these points
Sir, – It looks like once again the communities of Kennoway and its surrounding neighbours have lost out on the financial benefits after the planning refusal of the Clatto Hill wind turbine project.
There seems to be too much publicity given to the anti-turbine action groups in the local press and not enough as regards the benefits.
The Methil energy park future depends on planning applications such as these being passed so as to establish much-needed investment and to create apprenticeships and jobs.
There is also talk of a new foundry to be constructed in the Levenmouth area and big named multi-nationals wanting to invest in the renewable sector. So what kind of message does this send out to these potential investors?
Surely Fife’s planning committee have to consider these points, as do the anti-turbine groups, as well as having their own agenda?
Thomas Bryce.126 Kirke Park,Methilhill,Leven.
I won’t hold my breath
Sir, – Now that Gamesa has chosen Leith with the promise of 800 skilled jobs we should look at the decision and what it means for Scotland.
Someone correct me if I am wrong. The Spanish owner of ScottishPower, Iberdrola, signed a deal with Gamesa to provide at least half of the power utility’s wind turbines over the next decade. The two Spanish companies already had close links, having signed a supply agreement three years ago.
So it’s a Spanish company helping out another Spanish company in the UK energy sector. No doubt UK Government funding topped up by Scottish Government money had some influence.
If SSE set up in Dundee as promised, I will not be holding my breath. Given previous promises, they will be doing exactly the same thing and moving the serious money out of the UK.
I understand we need the jobs, but after 40 years in the offshore sector and European centre of excellence why can’t we have Scottish or UK-owned companies reaping the benefits of our many attributes dearly coveted by foreign companies?
Carlos Van Francis.Clepington Road,Dundee.
All the same
Sir, – The recent strong resemblance between Labour and the Tory policies was exposed for all to see in the budget. Compare George Osborne’s cut on OAPs’ pensions with Gordon Brown’s removal of the 10% tax rate which harmed those with the lowest incomes.
Both tried to hide their shoddy acts in a mass of facts and figures in order to deceive.
John Thomson.25 Renny Crescent,Montrose.
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.