Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Hugh Macrae asks if Dundee City Council have a vision for the waterfront (Tourists would flock to this museum, Letters, May 22). I would ask if they have any vision at all.
Some years ago, the council set about ”improving” Lochee High Street. This improvement involved narrowing the road to increase congestion, placing bus stops at the narrow points to ensure traffic can’t get past while a bus is at the stop and using three sets of traffic lights to control one junction at the south end of the High Street a move which has the bonus of encouraging traffic away from the High Street and on to Grays Lane, a narrow street with a primary school.
Traffic on the bypass between the South Road roundabout and the three-light junction is delayed due to the bus lane which runs there, so adding further to the congestion and delaying any traffic exiting High Street.
By way of improvement, there are a few less shops in Lochee’s High Street, a few trees in buckets and a lot more junkies.
The taxi ranks have been relocated, but not the taxis.
Parking in a taxi rank will result in the driver being fined but taxis are apparently allowed to park in disabled bays and on the pavement.
It’s hardly surprising the council seems to have bailed out before installing the promised secure entry systems to closes.
I would like to suggest that before the council spends any more money on any more improvements, they invest in some dictionaries and familiarise themselves with the definition of the word ”improve”.
John Stenhouse.Lochee High Street,Dundee.
Shown a lack of commitment to armed forces
Sir, – In reply to Mr Murray’s letter of May 23 (Defence cuts not SNP doing), I’m afraid that he misquotes me.
I never said the SNP were to blame for the defence cuts but they have shown a lack of commitment to the provision of the armed forces in Scotland, which in turn has been created by the delay in holding any form of referendum and the future of the armed forces based in Scotland.
No business would spend or commit to any company that does not have a clear strategy and was proposing to be funded by a central bank or firm only to have it move elsewhere. The same applies here.
The Scottish Government has not shown commitment to armed forces retention and in actual fact have been quoted by the Government as having a laissez-faire approach.
I have a very strong interest in all matters concerning the armed forces, their families and veterans and have been campaigning to have medical facilities established in Scotland, with a degree of success.
I have also served 25 years in the army both regular and TAVR so I am well aware of the current interests and situations to what is happening in Scotland and the UK as a whole.
What I must say, though, is it is good to be able to have open dialogue in a free and democratic way through the media and hope the government (SNP) will show a clear commitment to the armed forces as a UK body and I am a very strongly in support of the retention of the Scottish regiments, bases and history.
Alastair McLean.4 Fletcher Place,Crieff.
What we get is what we vote for
Sir, – Now that the dust has finally settled after the council elections we, the voters, it seems, are about to get what we voted for here in Fife an unlikely alliance between ”Thatcher’s Children” and ”Blair’s Babes” to form the leadership of Fife Council.
The ex-mining communities of Fife in Kelty, Cardenden and the surrounding places that produced coal and then went through the suffering caused by the Thatcher Tory government three decades ago must be having second thoughts as to what will happen under such an administration.
The scare stories from Labour and some of their independent colleagues while seeking attention through the media for election purposes to scare the public into voting for them will abate for now, until the independence referendum.
As Labour’s generals take their seats, a new ”Berlin” wall will return for those living in North East Fife and as before we will undoubtedly become the forgotten corner of Fife.
This anti-independence alliance has been put in place by the unionist camps in order to pervert the message given by those that seek an independent Scotland.
Such is politics.
What we get is what we vote for.
Bob Harper.63a Pittenweem Road,Anstruther.
Can sleep easy at night now
Sir, – I am pleased to note the police action in relation to the degree of rowdyism which appears to be blighting the Lochgelly/Lochore area at the weekends.
The fact that two local councillors went out on patrol with the officers must surely give the local population a great sense of security as they go to bed at night.
John McDonald,14 Rosebery Court,Kirkcaldy.
What a pleasant, happy bunch
Sir, – I had a team of council waste workers call at my flat recently as I had some large items to be uplifted (for a small fee). What a pleasant, happy bunch they were.
They even refused a tip probably because I am a disabled OAP.
Thanks guys, you really cheered me up.
David McMillan.7b Balmullo Square,Dundee.
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.