Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – It is totally unreasonable for Mike Scott-Hayward to suggest that ”some community councils” have a serious conflict of interest over the determination of windfarm planning applications and the source of funds that flow into community development trusts (June 28).
Each organisation has its own constitution and there is a clear distinction between a community council that seeks to reflect and represent local interests and concerns and a community development trust that ”receives” funding from various sources to improve facilities for local people and groups.
It is true, however, that a member of a community council may sit on a community development trust but such organisations are established to determine the disbursement of funding, not to support windfarm planning applications, as Mr. Scott-Hayward suggests.
Any such ”undue influence” at a community council meeting would not be tolerated by any reasonable chairman and could lead to the offending member being referred to the Standards Commission for Scotland, the body that oversees those in public office, leading to a hearing, suspension or removal from the community council.
It is also true that the subsidies for renewable energy developments are no longer acceptable as they have forced up the cost of energy for those who can least afford it and, thankfully, will be removed in due course.
Community development trusts have already done great work in many parts of Scotland but to suggest that they are influential in the determination of windfarm applications is utter nonsense. If Mr Scott-Hayward has evidence of any such conflicts of interests, he should immediately bring them to the attention of the Standards Commission for Scotland so that they can be dealt with appropriately, rather than have an unsubstantiated rant at the government.
Colin Young.Meadowland,Dunning.
EU exit would solve problem
Sir, – It’s not often we hear from our members of the European Parliament, despite the powers the EU has over us. There are seven representing Scotland, each picking up around £100,000 in salary and expenses.
It was unusual therefore to read Catherine Stihler MEP, on a visit to Fife Migrants Forum, which is grant funded by Fife Council, announce ”the necessity of migration”.
It is the ”necessity of migration” I query.
With unemployment amongst the young running at over 20%, with thousands on Fife Council housing waiting list, sometimes for years, surely it is the duty of our politicians to serve our own people first. We elect them to serve us, or so they tell us during election time.
Catherine Stihler, of course, is in a difficult position. Open borders is EU policy, internal migration is EU policy, so she has supported it. Withdrawal from the EU would solve it.
Every recent poll has shown an overwhelming support for a referendum on our continuing membership of the EU. Tory, Labour, and the Lib Dems have promised one, but when they see the polls they back off.
Let’s vote for a party who will carry it through.
George Cormack.McLauchlan Rise,Aberdour.
An end to this saga is desired
Sir, – As somebody who was against the demolition of the City Hall, it comes as no surprise to read that at the full meeting of Perth and Kinross Council they were unhappy about the decision taken by Historic Scotland to retain the hall.
The statement that their proposal for a city square was supported by a majority of residents I find hard to believe. A city square is not the magical answer to Perth’s problems.
Thank goodness then for Mike Barnacle, who so rightly pointed out about the representations made to Historic Scotland. Pete Barrett states that the people of Perth want an end to this saga and we do we want the council to find a use for our hall.
The council has £3.28 million earmarked for a civic square. Archie MacLellan wants it made clear that this money will not be available to a developer for an alternative use, so what happens to that money now? At least the council won’t have to dig deep for the £25,000 needed to market the hall.
Call me naive, but I thought one of the key roles of an elected councillor was to ensure that the views of the local community were represented and fed into all decisions taken by the council.
It seems to me that Perth and Kinross Council are incapable of understanding what residents want.
Laura Wilson.Perth.
Importance of demonstration
Sir, – In a democracy we should accept the right of those with whom we disagree fundamentally to march peacefully through the streets.
I was sorry to see that the normally even-handed Councillor George Kay adopts such a negative approach to Orange marches (June 29). Is he really asking us to believe that Fife Police cannot control parades involving no more than 400 people in a cost-effective way?
It is not enough to say that these events don’t bring communities together.
A lot of issues in the modern world wars in the Middle East, gay rights, nuclear disarmament, the cost of pensions are deeply divisive, but we should vigorously defend the right of people to show their dissent in a responsible way.
When the authorities try to stifle it they simply build up more problems for themselves and the people they claim to serve.
Personally I find the unionism the Orange Order claims to stand for distasteful. But that is not important. What is vital is that ordinary citizens should feel free to express their wishes but should try to take into account the feelings of others when doing so.
Freedom, though, depends on people being prepared to get off their seats occasionally to show what they are concerned about.
Councillor Kay and the council he is a member of should do all in their power to make sure they can.
Bob Taylor.24 Shiel Court,Glenrothes.
Paying out all the time
Sir, – Who pays the bank’s fines? We do, the customers!
They borrow and use our money, fiddle it, buy or take a cruise, get caught and then pay the fine with our money.
Jail ’em, methinks.
Mike Scott-Hayward.Sawmill House,Kemback Bridge, Fife.
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.