Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – I read with interest Gordon Adam’s comments that cybernats are by definition anti-English, vindictive and divisive.
I wonder what Mr Adam’s reaction would be to a map of Scotland produced by the renowned and widely-read London-based Economist newspaper that renames and describes our country as Skintland, its cities and towns as Edinborrow, Aberdown, Donedee, Dearth, Arbroke, etc.
It is not the first time, and it won’t be the last, that a supposedly respected and pro-union newspaper has behaved in a way that can be equally described as being anti-Scottish, vindictive and divisive.
This type of media behaviour has been going on for decades whereby Scotland and Scots have been routinely labelled a nation of subsidy junkies.
It is a slur that has angered many.
So it is little wonder that with the advent of the internet and mass communication Scots are now responding to derogatory national stereotypes in a way that was impossible before.
If standing up to anti-Scottish invective by some of our English cousins defines one as a cybernat, then there are more than five million Scots who can be labelled thus.
It would appear we’re all cybernats now.
Malcolm McCandless.40 Muirfield Crescent,Dundee.
Skyline to be dominated for years to come
Sir, – I read the letter from Calum Wilson, managing director of the Forth Energy Electricity Partnership (Tuesday April 3), in which he states that there will be no harmful emissions from the enormous biomass incinerator plant that his company proposes to erect at our Dundee waterfront.
I wonder, therefore, why a 300ft chimney stack has to be built?
I also notice that Mr Wilson did not mention my suggestion that some tidal water-powered turbines in the fast-flowing water of the River Tay would be a better and healthier method for generating electricity.
It would prevent thousands of tons of wood (clean or unclean) having to be shipped all the way across the Atlantic from America.
It would also help to prevent our already heavily congested Dundee streets becoming ever more congested and polluted by the exhaust fumes from the large number of trucks that will be required to deliver fuel for the plant from around Scotland.
Lastly, it would at least save our Dundee waterfront from being dominated for years to come by such a massive and ominous construction.
Robert Addison.11 Forthill Place,Broughty Ferry,Dundee.
The risk at park increases significantly
Sir, – It is apparently not the developer’s intention to build a new road through Davis Park, Kinross, but to extend the existing one (Thursday April 12).
The impression is that the existing road, primarily an access to a field, has substantial traffic flow.
The exact opposite is the case.
The area provides safe access for the children to an important play area, Davis Memorial Park.
Post-development, there are likely to be upwards of 300-400 vehicles daily cutting across access to the park.
The proposed changes will impinge on a valuable amenity and potentially put children’s lives at risk.
Bob Corrieri.10 Wicks o’ Baiglie Road,Bridge of Earn.
The ball is in your court, Royal Mail
Sir, – I have read about people in the west end of Dundee having problems collecting mail, but we in the DD4 area have had the same problem for a long time. Unless you have transport there is no way you can collect parcels, and the Royal Mail service has not improved totally.
On Saturday April 7 the postman had a parcel for my sister (DD4 area).
She was out shopping so she went through the usual system of arranging a re-delivery, which would be on Tuesday April 10 because of the Easter holiday.
Tuesday came and went, Wednesday came and went and Thursday came and went, but no parcel. As you can appreciate my sister was not a happy bunny.
The strange thing was the postman came on Thursday, but had no re-delivery parcel and he did not know why.
I also read that there is a trial scheme in Edinburgh to nominate a neighbour to accept delivery of parcels for you.
This is not something new it used to be common practice and if, like me, you have honest neighbours, there is no reason why it should not happen again.
Over to you, Royal Mail.
June Reid.12 Findhorn Street,Fintry,Dundee.
Happy ending after tumble
Sir, – I would like to thank all the very kind people who came to my help when I took a tumble outside Staples in the Kingsway Retail Park in Dundee.
I am very grateful for their kindness and concern.
Happy to say no major injury occurred in the fall and I am feeling better.
Patricia Bree.Balgray Street,Dundee.
Importance of survey
Sir, – The Citizens Advice survey on graduate employment should play an important role in demonstrating the problems faced by graduates looking for work.
As you report, not only can a great many not find work, but those that do often have to take jobs that make no use of their education.
As well as being intensely depressing, this has wider implications.
It wastes skills that could be put to better use, it discourages future generations from going to university and it affects everyone looking for work by making the competition for ‘non-graduate’ jobs more intense.
Sarah Glynn.c/o Edinburgh Trades Council,15 Mansfield Place,Edinburgh.
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.