Sir, The usual disapproval of increased charges for Ninewells parking are routinely expected and expressed.
When parking charges were abolished in most areas it should be noted that no further money was given by the government to fund the upkeep of those car parks.
In other words, money I believe should be spent on patient care has to be spent by health boards on main-tenance and security of car parks.
Furthermore, at Ninewells there is also another problem, there are people (commuters?) who park there all day, taking the bus to their place of work.
Even at £2.10 per day these people are still getting their parking a good deal cheaper than in the city centre.
Aberdeen Hospital had to have free parking but tried to get the right to charge for parking again because of this problem.
Parking is not just about space for cars. It is about maintenance of the car parks, lighting, security and at Ninewells the provision of mobility aids etc.
I have used Ninewells car parks very frequently and on one occasion I was leaving the hospital late at night in the dark and a security guard escorted me to my car which was in car park 19.
I recognise that patient transport costs are in many cases a major problem but it is a separate problem which is not helped by the idea that hospital car parking should be “free” for all.
M Robertson. Cairnie Loan, Arbroath.
Just to increase conviction rates
Sir, I see the lemon suckers are out in force regarding dropping the drink-drive limit to zero. So if you have a sherry trifle or a glass of communion wine you could end up with a criminal record.
Why do these people not look at the facts 90% of all road accidents and deaths are caused by people who are stone cold sober but are rather hard to catch.
Arresting so-called drink drivers is just an excuse to get the conviction rates up so crime figures look good.
By all means get drunks off the roads, but don’t tar everyone with the same brush because they may have mistakenly had a half glass of wine too many.
Bob Duncan. 110 Caesar Avenue, Carnoustie.
Not just fault of London English
Sir, Re Allan A MacDougall’s summary ofK J MacDougall’s view that Angela Merkel and the German nation, having the most prosperous economy in Europe, is therefore the most powerful, is really secondary to the activities of the city of London causing the UK’s economic ills.
Germany’s economy is based on exports making a profit in year 2012-2013 of 400 billion euros, whilst the service-based economy of Britain had a deficit of £97 billion. Borrowing kept us afloat.
If Allan A MacDougall cares to look he may see the vast number of imported vehicles of all sorts in the car parks and streets of our towns and cities all bought by private citizens and private companies.
Of course, our public services police, fire and rescue, ambulance service, and the armed services drive vehicles almost exclusively imported from Europe.
These imports help to maintain the UK’s national debt averaging £8-£10 billion per month.
Government spends £140 billion in interest charges yearly to service that debt of more than one trillion pounds.
So despite the charge that it’s the English in London who are unfair to Scotland, I suggest that, to a degree it really is our collective fault.
Robin Love. 4 Station Cottages, Dubton Hillside, Montrose.
Lost tourism due to APD
Sir, It was great to see the joint submission by Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports to the Smith Commission calling for air passenger duty (APD) to be devolved to Holyrood and eventually abolished (October 29).
This is something we have been promoting for some time as Scotland’s location means that this punitive tax is having a major impact on our competitiveness as a nation, affecting our tourism sector.
Indeed, the Scottish Government estimates that APD will cost Scotland more than £200 million a year in lost tourism spending alone in 2016 and deter more than two million passengers from visiting every year.
In this context it is interesting to note that when the Republic of Ireland abolished the levy in 2013 this resulted in a tourism boom with an increased number of passengers carried.
Most international tourists arriving in Scotland travel via London airports, putting Scotland at a particular disadvantage since APD is paid on international flights into and out of London and on flights between London and Scottish airports.
Any attempts to reduce the rate of APD as it impacts on Scotland are to be greatly welcomed, ensuring that those flying from Scotland are not penalised and that our tourism potential as a nation is fully realised.
Dan Macdonald. Founder, N-56, 112 George Street, Edinburgh.
Slap in the face from Labour
Sir, Further to your article regarding the debate at council on Monday night over what submission, if any, Dundee City Council should make to the Smith Commission I would like to emphasise one point.
The Scottish National Party fully recognises the result of the recent refer-endum, which is why we are submitting a list of powers we would like to see devolved, which falls short of indepen-dence.
In response, the Labour Group submitted an amendment which contained not one extra power they would like to see devolved. Indeed their amendment suggested removing powers from Holyrood. A curious position for the self-styled “Party of Devolution”.
This is a slap in the face for the 40% of Labour voters who voted for all powers to be held at Holyrood. I won’t even mention those who voted “no” in the belief that more power was coming after the now infamous “Vow” was made.
It is well known that Labour cannot bring them-selves to back the SNP in any realm of policy but to turn your back on almost half of your own supporters is a dangerous game.
When we remember that in the referendum the great urban areas of Dundee, Glasgow, Paisley, Motherwell and Inverness, to name but a few, voted “yes”, then it leaves the future of a Labour Party, seemingly stuck in the past, looking very bleak indeed.
Cllr Kevin Cordell. c/o City Chambers, Dundee.
Nicola’s double standards…
Sir, I was outraged when I read about Nicola Sturgeon trying to interfere in the desperately needed in/out referendum on Europe.
She has absolutely no right whatsoever to do this. I am glad that David Cameron has rejected her delusions of grandeur.
It also smacks of double standards. She refused to allow Scottish people living elsewhere in the UK a vote in the independence referen-dum, yet she is complaining that Scotland won’t have a separate voice in the European referendum.
Talk about toys being thrown out of the pram!
Ms Sturgeon needs to realise her place in politics. She is an unelected leader who acquired her post by default so she has no right to dictate to the rest of the UK on Europe or any other issue.
Scotland is not a separate country, thank goodness. Common sense prevailed on September 18 and therefore she has to accept the majority decision of the rest of the UK which, hopefully, will be to get a fast exit out of a bureau-cratic, dictating cash-grabbing organisation like the EU.
Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth.