Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – In your article, ”Hurricane havoc” (August 30), you quote Professor Pete Smith as saying: ”Floods happen and I’m not saying every time there’s a flood it’s because of climate change.”
What exactly does that mean? The one fact that everybody does accept is that the climate changes sometimes more than once in one day!
No-one is debating climate change, as the Professor claims.
What we are debating is the original theory that human-induced increases in carbon emissions are the basis for global warming warming which stubbornly refuses to materialise.
That is the issue which Professor Smith tries to gloss over by addressing what was once called global warming as climate change a cop-out if ever I heard one.
If Prof Smith is a leading adviser to the Scottish Government as mentioned in the article, that would certainly explain the rush to cover the country with more and more wind turbines in the vain hope that this will stop the climate changing.
Dr G M Lindsay.Whinfield Gardens,Kinross.
Decimated playparks mystery
Sir, – We are constantly told in the media that young people nowadays are lazy, have no respect for authority and no ambition. In truth, people who are quick to judge are often keen to romanticise the past and forget their own follies of youth.
This isn’t to say we don’t have problems these days but surely as a society there should be less finger-pointing and more intelligent thinking about what we can do to harness the power and potential of the next generation.
So it really mystifies me as to why across Cowdenbeath in the last few months local playparks have been decimated by the council.
At my local park between Blackburn Drive and Park Road there now stands just two lonely slabs of concrete where once swings and a roundabout stood and children played every day. The same has happened in Drylie Street and near the Public Park. I’m sure it has happened elsewhere across Fife.
Perhaps Fife Council have a fantastic new plan in mind to create new parks if they have then this hasn’t been well communicated. But I would happily eat my words if that’s the case.
Even if they do have a grand plan in place then surely a better idea would have been to phase this work, rather than decimate what we have and leave nothing in its place.
As a parent I feel really angry about this and I also feel sorry for children growing up, because it feels like society has rolled back in the 30-odd years since I was born.
Michael McPartlin.Farm Road,Cowdenbeath.
Laws apply to everyone
Sir, – Yet again I read a letter from an elected member telling us that they cannot use a certain kind of legislation to solve a big problem within our city and again no explanation as to why it cannot be used.
I am of course referring to SNP Cllr Sawers’ reply to my letter about using Anti Social Behaviour Laws against those using unlawful traveller site. I will however try my best to help Cllr Sawers and his SNP administration out by explaining why anti-social behaviour laws can be used.
The following are just a few things that are defined as anti-social behaviour public disorder, vandalism, noise nuisance, dog fouling, litter, fly-tipping.
Having read the articles in The Courier regarding these unlawful encampments then I would say all the things I have listed are relevant and under the act they can be fined or even have a court order place on them to prohibit such action. Any breach of the court order could result in a custodial sentence. This might just be the deterrent required.
However, there is also another older piece of legislation available to use and that is the Trespass (Scotland) Act 1865 which makes an unauthorised encampment on private land a criminal offence in Scotland.
Is it the case that the use of any of these laws would in fact be considered against the SNP Government policy on non-harassment of gypsy travellers?
It is time we had some equality in this country where everyone is treated the same and not the system we have now where minorities can be immune to laws the rest of us must obey. It is these policies that tend to lead racism.
Maybe Cllr Sawers should speak to his employer Shona Robison MSP to whom he is a researcher and seek clarification of the SNP Government’s policy of non-harassment of gypsy travellers against the laws available to prevent criminal activity by travellers.
Allan Petrie.109 Blacklock Crescent,Dundee.
Firms show a lack of courtesy
Sir, – Like many other unemployed Scots I am getting really depressed with the number of employers who do not have the courtesy to reply to job applications.
After putting a lot of time and effort into an application it is extremely disheartening to then just be ignored.
In this day and age the majority of employers and applicants have access to e-mail. Employers may blame large numbers of applicants and financial measures for refusing to respond but how much time and money does it take to send a quick email?
Gordon Kennedy.117 Simpson Square,Perth.
Fuel price query
Sir, – I travelled south down the A9 on Sunday, having noted that Tesco in Inverness were selling diesel at 133.9p per litre.
On arrival in Dundee, I was horrified to discover that Tesco was charging 140.9p per litre.
What possible justification can there be for a differential of 7p per litre?
KM Murray.Jedburgh Road,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.