Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Many of your readers may be unacquainted with the work of John Burnside, a prolific writer born and resident in Fife.
His memoirs, novels and poetry have scooped armfuls of international awards.
He is acclaimed as one of the first ”eco-poets” for his deep, spiritual apprehension of the natural world and for his warnings that it was being destroyed by man’s relentless drive for profit and consumption.
Many of his poems feature the wildlife and landscape of the East Neuk indeed the peace and beauty of the area is the reason John Burnside and his family moved to a cottage just outside Arncroach.
Now they are being driven out.
There are presently 28 turbines either consented or in the planning process within a couple of miles of their home.
Whichever direction they look, they will see the rotating blades of industrial turbines the tallest are 335 feet to blade tip, the one nearest to them 156 feet.
There is no doubt that the Burnsides will leave Fife should these applications be consented and turbines encircle their home.
The noise alone will have serious health implications for John Burnside and make writing at home impossible.
But the inspiration the vast open skies, the serene landscapes, the soaring hawks, migrating flocks and swirling starlings will have gone too.
Linda Holt.Dreel House,Arncroach,Pittenweem.
Don’t let them demonstrate
Sir, – We were disappointed to see Dr Stuart Waiton supporting the ”right” of the SDL to protest in Dundee. He believes the SDL are as entitled to express their views as any other group.
We do not share this view. The SDL are coming to Dundee for one purpose, to spread hatred against Muslims and other minority groups.
The same arguments about defending free speech were made in the 1990s when the BNP opened their headquarters in Welling. The left was also attacked back then as ”intolerant” and ”authoritarian” for demanding the building be shut down.
The SDL and their English counterparts are anti-working class groups. They claim they are only concerned with fighting ”Islamic extremism”. This leaves one wondering why they have attacked ordinary workers who have taken strike action to defend their pensions.
It also leaves you wondering why they have attacked socialists throughout Britain campaigning against the government’s austerity agenda.
We should not allow them to demonstrate in Dundee. The city has a proud history of fighting racists and fascists.
In 1990, hundreds mobilised to chase the BNP out of this city. Let’s show that 22 years on, working class people in Dundee are still prepared to thwart attempts to turn us against each other.
Philip Stott.Socialist Party,Dundee branch.
Wayne Scott.Youth Fight for Jobs/Youth against Racism in Europe.
Litter disgrace in the Ferry
Sir, – The amount of litter scattered all over the street from Broughty Ferry Castle to the lifeboat station on Sunday (August 19) morning was an absolute disgrace.
I have been a resident of Broughty Ferry for eight years and it seems every year during the summer months we have the same issue, with bins overflowing from the local chips shops and fast food outlets.
The council don’t appear to be tackling the issue and it must give tourists and visitors the impression we don’t care.
I would suggest making a late collection after all the fast food outlets are closed and replacing current bins with ones that won’t allow gulls and crows easy access.
I would also suggest that Broughty Ferry councillors should take a look for themselves one weekend. Maybe it would encourage them to take action.
Anthony O’Shea.8 Castle Terrace,Broughty Ferry.
Incentives are not working
Sir, – It’s hugely concerning to read reports that only 0.04% of Scottish households have made use of the Scottish Government’s green homes initiative.
With the Green Deal due to come into force in early October, it doesn’t bode well for potential take-up of that scheme. It’s particularly frustrating at a time when the construction sector is desperate for work to maintain employment and apprentice numbers.
Sadly, the incentives offered by the green homes initiative appear insufficient to entice the vast majority of homeowners.
If the Scottish and UK Governments are to have any chance of meeting ambitious carbon reduction targets, more radical incentives will be needed to catch the average consumer’s attention cutting VAT on home repairs and improvements to 5% would save consumers a further £15 on every £100 they spend on energy efficiency measures, for example.
Ultimately, with building use responsible for 40% of all carbon emissions, we need to get serious about greening our built environment.
Ministers should introduce a comprehensive retrofit programme to bring all buildings up to the modern standards needed to meet environmental targets while supporting jobs and skills in the building industry.
Michael Levack.Chief executive,Scottish Building Federation,Edinburgh.
Pay it all back
Sir, – I agree with Clark Cross (Letters, August 20) when he suggests pulling the plug on aid to India, but why not go the whole hog and demand they return the aid already given to them?
If they refuse to see sense we can always threaten them with a ban from the Eurovision Song Contest.
Steve Dron.Muirfield Crescent,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.