Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – Should local planning applications in Fife be determined by the council’s seven area committees or by much larger units?
I agree wholeheartedly with the views of St Andrews Community Council chair Kyffin Roberts (Courier, September 21).
Those with knowledge of local conditions are best placed to consider and comment on proposals for their community.
Fife Council’s minority Labour administration seems intent on turning back the clock. It wants applications to be decided either by committees for a much larger area or by a single one for the whole county.
This makes a mockery of any claim it makes to be ”putting people first” and ”empowering local communities”.
What lies behind this retrograde move? Labour wants to return to the old district council boundaries set up nearly 40 years ago.
It is much more comfortable with those arrangements. It ensured it had a majority in the western and central parts of the county (the position in North East Fife has always been different).
But the area committees, set up in 2007, have not just been popular. They embody the ideal that decision-making should come closer to ordinary voters.
They should be strengthened not weakened.
In the final analysis the local authority exists to meet the needs of ordinary citizens not the whims of council officials or party apparatchiks.
Bob Taylor.24 Shiel Court,Glenrothes.
Bulldozed through
Sir, – Two years ago, I observed Perth and Kinross Council’s development control committee and planning officials when they gave consent for the demolition of Pitlochry Curling Rink so that flats could be built. Although we were told the flats were needed urgently, no construction has taken place.
The same developer, Upland Developments, continues to seek permission to demolish a Victorian ”building of merit”, the Bank House in Pitlochry’s main street.
Despite Historic Scotland’s strong objection, our council officials are once again recommending approval of Upland Developments’ plans.
Again, I find myself wondering what on earth motivates the officials and councillors who seem determined to bulldoze through a proposal which has time and again been rejected locally.
I have lodged a Freedom of Information request to see whether that will shed any light on the matter.
Helen McDade.9 Lettoch Terrace,Pitlochry.
Enough is enough
Sir, – Throughout the summer months I’ve tried my best to cut back on my electricity bill and my BT phone bill really paying attention to the use of both.
The other week I received information a letter from Scottish Hydro saying energy prices will go up from October 15. Then I read in The Courier about price increases by BT.
Like myself people try their best to take these rises seriously only to be shaken and upset by the latest news.
Hasn’t anyone in the government got the guts to stand up for the public to say ”enough is enough”?
The public do their best to cut back only to be informed we’ll be charged more.
There is something evil about being allowed to escalate the charges of the necessities of life. It’s OK for the ones who are in government sitting on their big fat salaries.
It’s time the public shouted long and loud to ensure the government can’t escape our anger and disbelief.
Mary J. Sutherland.47 Strathmore Street,Bridgend, Perth.
Oil production the culprit?
Sir, – Am I right in thinking that occurrences of marine mammals beaching themselves around our shores is increasing? Could the oil production from the North Sea be disrupting the navigation system of whales?
There are 22 platforms in North Sea oil fields which require the constant use of service tugs and many helicopter flights which must produce unnatural vibrations in the water.
Perhaps more marine mammals are being attracted towards the east coast.
It is with regret that despite the strenuous efforts of organisations such as British divers, marine life rescue many of the animals cannot be saved as has been shown by the stranded whales on local beaches.
Quentin Mackintosh.South Lodge,Belmont Estate,Meigle, Blairgowrie.
Definitely not clean or green
Sir, – So Jenny Hjul believes nuclear power to be ”clean, green and efficient” (Courier, September 19)? Perhaps she should tell that to the people around Fukishima or Chernobyl who even now suffer impaired health and reduced life expectancy, or the hill farmers in England who, 26 years after Chernobyl, still have restrictions on the movement and sale of their stock.
Any industry searching for disposal sites to bury its nuclear waste for the next few thousand years, or negotiating with impoverished, foreign governments to look after this legacy, cannot be described as clean or green.
John Crichton.Northampton Place,Forfar.
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.