Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – I was astounded to read Jenny Hjul’s article in Wednesday’s Courier where she thinks there is to be a ”choice between President Alex or Her Majesty”.
It seems that Jenny equates independence with republicanism. Or is it her strategy to knock independence?
Certainly looking at the American experience that did not detract from their progress. However, we have a longer history of our own and can draw on that.
For over a century Scotland was an independent kingdom ruled most of that time by the same monarch as England, apart from an interregnum where an English Commonwealth was imposed on us.
From the Union of the Crowns some of our Queen’s forebears were monarchs of both countries.
Let’s not confuse the Union of the Crowns with the Union of the Parliaments. We did have and can have a shared monarchy while being governed by independent parliaments.
I do not think Jenny should blame the local authorities for the apparent lack of enthusiasm of Scots to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
It’s probably more our disassociation from London that creates the north south divide in the way we wish to mark the event.
However, I wish her and the rest of us who have backyard Jubilee ”bashes” an enjoyable celebration of our monarch’s reign.
Jack Blair.Bridge of Earn.
Tenants did play a very important role
Sir, – Dr Sarah Glynn suggests that the long campaign by former tenants of the Derby Street multis is being written out of history (Letters, April 18). Nothing could be further from the truth.
I will always acknowledge the role tenants (and Dr Glynn) played in resisting the demolition of their homes. They produced powerful arguments to which the council, frankly, had no credible answer.
In the end I could not stop the demolition of the Derby Street multis because there was simply no money left to invest.
Dr Glynn also suggests I only came to this issue three years ago. This is not true. My first involvement was in 2005 when I wrote a critical feature for Shelter’s housing magazine, ”Roof”.
From the moment I was elected in 2007 I took every opportunity to question Labour’s unnecessary demolition policy. Although I failed to save Derby Street, I did manage to prevent the demolition of hundreds of homes in Lochee.
The SNP has transformed the management of housing in this city, as the recent Scottish Housing Regulator’s report will confirm.
We have done this together as a disciplined, united group and we work as a team. There’s still plenty to do.
(Cllr) Jimmy Black.Convener of Housing,Dundee City Council.
Doubling up safer in this instance
Sir, – George McMillan (Letters, April 18) complains about cyclists delaying him on the A94 travelling into Perth by travelling in double file. This is a road where it is not safe to pass a cyclist into the face of oncoming traffic.
A group of 10 cyclists heading south along this road in single file will be travelling between 20-25mph and require a clear line of sight of at least 200m to pass legally without forcing his car into the line of riders. There are very few stretches like this. Conversely, a double file of cyclists will require approximately half that distance, giving many more passing opportunities.
Cyclists do not generally like delaying other traffic, but converse to Mr McMillan’s assertion, riding double file gives car drivers more opportunity to pass safely.
As a car driver, cyclist and pedestrian, I fully agree that all road user should observe the relevant laws.
(Dr) David Martin.Chair, Dundee and District Cycling Association.
The message behind the painting
Sir, – Re your item on Friday April 13, that the picture The Scream is likely to sell for £50 million. Until now, I could never understand what made it so special.
Now with your explanation that the scream is not coming from the figure’s mouth, but he is hearing it through his ears, I understand completely and can sympathise as I feel the same on many occasions when trying to watch a programme on television and the presenter is completely drowned out by the excessively loud ”music”.
Doreen Dingwall.10 Baldovie Place,Dundee.
Ill-judged move
Sir, – The decision by staff at Dundee Airport to take strike action is extremely ill-judged in the current economic climate.
Not only that, any time I have used the airport I have been left with the impression of significant overstaffing.
To staff I would say: ”Do not further jeopardise the fragility of Dundee Airport’s continued operation, and consider the paying passengers and taxpayers, just for once.”
We pay a heavy price in taxes and charges for the convenience of Dundee Airport.
I, for one, will never use it again if my travel plans for early May are ruined.
Jim Shaw.Dundee.
Over the top
Sir, – What a phoney campaign by Donald Trump!
I am not an active advocate for wind turbines, although I can see how they do present both advantages and disadvantages.
But to say that they will ”forever destroy Scotland and cause it to go broke” is way, way over the top.
(Dr) J A Wilson.Kingskettle.
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.