Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Inconsiderate parking forces pedestrians on to the road and into the path of vehicles. It is a major barrier for people with visual or mobility impairments, wheelchair or mobility scooter users, families with pushchairs and cyclists.
It can damage the pavement, creating additional costly obstacles.
With an ageing, less mobile population, more cars on the road and less money for maintenance, we need to prevent inconsiderate parking blocking pavements, raised crossings and dropped kerbs.
Joe FitzPatrick MSP has launched his proposed Responsible Parking bill in the Scottish Parliament to enforce restrictions across Scotland on pavement parking, dropped kerb parking and double parking.
Eighteen major charities have come together in the Responsible Parking Alliance to support the proposals and end the inconsiderate parking that stops us getting around our streets.
We urge your readers to respond to this consultation, before the deadline of June 30 2012.
You can find out further details and respond in just two minutes via the Living Streets Scotland or Guide Dogs Scotland websites.
Keith Irving.Living Streets Scotland.Jane Horsburgh.Guide Dogs Scotland.On behalf of the Responsible Parking Alliance.
Just what is the answer?
Sir, – I am sure our thoughts and deepest sympathy must go out to relatives after two recent tragic road accidents.
We had the accident involving two lorries on the two-way carriageway of the A9, north of Calvine, which rightly resulted in the local politicians calling for the entire A9 between Perth and Inverness to be upgraded to dual carriageway.
Sadly, on Tuesday, two teenagers died after their car collided with a tree on a dual carriageway in Aberdeen.
What is the answer to such tragedies which leave families shattered, particularly when they claim the lives of young people who have everything to live for?
Hopefully, the police investigations might come up with some sort of a solution.
John McDonald.14 Rosebery Court,Kirkcaldy.
Two weeks’ notice given
Sir, – Your article on May 28 about calls to upgrade the controversial Laurencekirk junction referred to a petition being considered by the public petitions committee.
Councillor David May was quoted as being ”quite surprised the committee was meeting” and that neither he nor the petitioner knew this was on the agenda the last time it came up.
I am sorry that Councillor May was not aware.
Let me assure him that my clerks give petitioners two weeks’ notice of their petition coming up again at a committee meeting.
All committees of the parliament, including the public petitions committee, publish their agendas and papers.
These are available on the parliament’s website, five days in advance of every committee meeting.
David Stewart MSP.Convener,Public Petitions Committee.
Preferable to any president
Sir, – While I share the distaste of some towards the extravagance in some of the activities celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, I do not go along with those who advocate that the head of state should be a party politician.
I have penfriends in both France and the USA. The recent electoral campaign in France was vicious and involved a lot of mud-slinging, and the newly elected president can hardly expect to have the affection of more than half of the citizens.
Later this year there will be an even more vicious campaign in the USA, which I hope that the Republicans will not win.
Let us face it, the Queen is preferable to any possible President Thatcher, Blair or Cameron, and because of the majority in the south of England, he or she would usually be a Tory certainly not my choice.
Robin Ball.27 Morgan Street,Dundee.
Should be an exciting time
Sir, – In reply to G. McMillan, A. Lawson, A. Geddes, what is so wrong with Scotland being independent?
It’s a democratic right in the free world.
Do they and the rest of the unionist lackeys expect fellow Scots to run cap in hand to their masters in Westminster for handouts for the next 300 years?
The empire and its one-sided victories is over, ex-colonies are now progressive countries New Zealand, Australia and Canada to name a few.
But in the eyes of British-loving Scots unionists, their own people are not capable of governing their own country. Why not? Too wee? Too stupid?
This should be the most exciting time in Scotland’s history; the SNP in power, independence a distinct possibility and an exciting future long overdue.
Live the dream.
J. Galloway.(ex-Dundonian),Sydney,Australia.
Doctors should remember…
Sir, – During their day of action this month doctors should remember that those who bite the hand that feeds them eventually have to lick the boot that kicks them.
Malcolm Parkin.15 Gamekeepers Road,Kinnesswood,Kinross.
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.