Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Firstly, I would like to thank everyone for their support and phone calls from the north, east, south and west of Scotland regarding the sea eagle attack at our farm.
I would also like to bring this to Jim Crumley’s attention after his comments in Tuesday’s Courier.
I did not ask to hold the lamb carcass nor was I happy doing this, but it was the photographer who requested for this to be done.
My husband and I worked many years alongside the RSPB for the waders project and it is sad to think it has all been for nothing, yet many issues implemented back then we still do today without payment from the RSPB. It seems to have tunnel vision over the control of raptors.
I would happily sit on a spring morning watching pewits burling in the sky and listen to curlews calling than seeing a great giant killing machine soaring in the sky, and I am sure many people would like to see songbirds at their bird table rather than the increasing number of sparrowhawks.
Rhona Duncan.Cockerstone Farm,Bankfoot,Perth.
Welfare charity, rather than conservation
Sir, – Ken Dickson’s letter was factually incorrect (Monday, April 9).
He said the Scottish SPCA is involved in introducing sea eagles to Scotland. This is untrue the project is run entirely by RSPB Scotland.
We do rescue thousands of sick and injured wild animals each year, including birds of prey, but we have played no part in introducing sea eagles to Scotland.
We are an animal welfare charity, not conservationists.
Furthermore, Mr Dickson is also wrong in his assertion in relation to the Christie case.
One of the main reasons this gamekeeper was convicted was due to the fact that the crow cage did not comply with the Open General Licence conditions stating that the trap must be disabled when not in use and identity tagged.
The trap had neither been immobilised nor tagged, therefore an offence was committed which Mr Christie himself admitted.
Mike Flynn,Chief superintendent,Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Reality check over workers’ pensions
Sir, – Local authorities’ contributions to their workers’ pension schemes absorb £1 in every £5 of council tax we pay and the overall council pensions deficit is already more than £54bn.
Most private sector workers do not have a pension but the average council tax payer is docked £300 to cover promises made to Gordon Brown’s vastly expanded client state.
Local government workers retire at 65 on a final salary scheme with contributions around 6% of their salary and have yet to wake up to the real world the rest of us inhabit.
The Government is negotiating a switch to a career average pension and a link to the rising state pension age which will bring the unions out on to the streets.
While council workers on low wages should be protected, hard-pressed taxpayers simply cannot foot an ever-growing bill to meet unrealistic ‘promises’ made in times of plenty.
Rev John Cameron,10 Howard Place,St Andrews.
Keep business to local companies
Sir, – As a founder president of Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce I have a natural desire to see local companies are competitive and can deliver best value to our public sector for us all in the region to benefit.
I was unfortunately dismayed and astonished to read in The Courier that our council had ordered more than £50,000 of blinds retrospectively for Dundee House from a supplier in Stirling (Tuesday, April 10).
I cannot believe that best value could not be achieved by working with local suppliers to help boost local employment and deliver value to the council and the council tax payers.
When are we going to come to our senses and support local employees while we still have jobs to save?
Gary Langlands. 5 Brunel Road,West Gourdie Industrial Estate,Dundee.
Beware the blowback from fracking
Sir, – Originally from Lochee, I now live in the USA, where we have a glut of natural gas from shale reserves.
If you think you have protests against windfarms, just wait for shale gas.
A method called hydraulic fracturing is used to release the gas.
There are raging debates in the US over the fact that “fracking” is claimed by some to pollute drinking water.
Strange species the human race we all want clean, cheap energy just as long as it is not produced where we can see, hear, taste or smell the production.
Still, don’t worry if fracking takes off in the UK it’ll deflect attention away from wind farms.
Eric Swinney.Lafayette,Louisiana.
Two wheels (can be) bad
Sir, – After visiting St Andrews I made my way home to Dundee only to find a long tailback of vehicles on the A91.
At the head of the queue were 10 cyclists complete with leathers/helmets.
While we are to encourage exercise, holding the road to ransom at 12mph is not what is needed they were riding two abreast and making no effort to let cars pass.
The road was tailbacked all the way from St Andrews to Guardbridge when passing was almost impossible due to busy oncoming traffic.
Surely this cannot be allowed think of the frustration for drivers, who may have had appointments to keep.
Fiona McMillan.6 Ethiebeaton Terrace,Monifieth.
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.