Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – With reference to Robin Valentine’s letter (Friday, August 3), I would like to correct his statement that ”the Concert Hall is useless for conferences”. Perth Concert Hall not only provides the meeting spaces with catering needed for conferencing, it far exceeds this basic requirement.
When Alex Salmond brought 750 delegates for his party’s annual conference he remarked: ”Perth Concert Hall provided a stunning, modern setting for the SNP’s 74th Annual National Conference, with excellent facilities and helpful staff. We hope to return in the near future to experience more of the wonderful hospitality the city has to offer.”
They have indeed returned, as have over 80% of conference and event organisers who bring thousands of delegates a year to Perth, for conferences, exhibitions, dinners, dances, award ceremonies, even car launches all with catering requirements met by our in-house team in our on-site kitchens. Last year alone 16,500 delegates from home and abroad attended over 120 meetings and conferences at the venue, staying in Perth’s hotels, spending in our shops.
Over the past seven years our catered conference business here in Perth Concert Hall has won many national awards, including Scottish Thistle Awards for Business Tourism and Business Leadership and a Scottish Event Award for Best Medium Venue. In the conference industry we are now considered as one of the leading conference venues in Scotland.
We are always very happy to meet with anyone interested to show them around and I would be delighted to invite Mr Valentine to take a tour of our modern, flexible, facilities. I am sure he will be just as impressed as the thousands of others were.
Jane Spiers. Chief Executive, Horsecross Arts.
“Meaningless” label surely cuts both ways?
Sir, – David Robertson (Letters, August 2), says the Scottish Government’s consultation on same-sex marriage was meaningless as its mind was already made up to proceed with legislating for it.
Surely that cuts both ways? The consultation would be equally open to being labelled ”meaningless” if the Government had already decided it was going to do nothing!
How does David Robertson know that this might not, in fact, have been the Government’s intention, but its mind was changed by those Christian and Jewish denominations who sought the right to conduct same-sex ceremonies in the name of religious freedom?
Surely David Robertson supports their rights, or does he speak for all Christians and Jews in Scotland as well as for all its non-believing citizens? Are consultations only meaningful when David Robertson’s demands are met? And to think people accuse Alex Salmond of being a dictator!
Alistair McBay. National Secular Society, 5 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh.
Change of law on sugar levels is needed
Sir, – It really concerns me that children are taking far too much sugar in their diet without parents being fully aware of it.
Over recent years we have seen many campaigns aimed at children and adults to eat less, lose weight and to exercise more to try to prevent type 2 diabetes.
I bought a standard carton of a well-known brand and was shocked to discover that per 100ml in that small carton there is 20 grams of sugar which is being targeted at children whose recommended sugar intake is 12 grams per day. Adults are 36 grams per day.
Just one of these cartons on a continual basis could potentially cause type 2 diabetes in children. How on earth can we expect to reduce the type 2 diabetes levels in this country when manufacturers are carrying on like this?
There needs to be a change in the law.
Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth.
Wrong to berate others then do it
Sir, – With his usual panache, Alex Orr berates us for politicising the Olympics (Letters, August 7), then proceeds to do exactly that by expressing his Utopian opinion that separation for Scotland will ”lead to greater economic growth”, less ”social deprivation”, while implying that the removal of Trident will make us more secure. He asks us to put aside politics and enjoy the sport – but not for him, never-never-land political tipping remains his sport.
Andrew Lawson. 9 MacLaren Gardens, Dundee.
Let the people decide on Lords
Sir, – The political parties are continually bickering about our parliamentary system in order to gain political points. The House of Lords costs the taxpayer £36 million a year on wages alone to an unelected body of 800 people. Should the people not decide in a referendum on such an important issue?
Alister Rankin. 93, Whyterose Terrace, Methil, Leven.
More games, more rest
Sir, – My late husband, Norrie Henderson, was a boxing trainer at the 17th Olympic Games in Rome. Looking at the programme of the games, your readers may be interested to know there were just 18 sporting events then, now there are double that – and Sunday was a rest day!
Helen Henderson. 10 Blair Gardens, Broughty Ferry, Dundee .