Sir, Those hyperventilating about the R&A’s deal with Sky over live television rights to the Open ignore the two hour, prime-time round-up which will be shown each day on BBC.
The fact is the Open has dropped to the B list of sporting events as regards broadcast rights and fails to make the top 30 ratings on the BBC, with a peak of only one million last year.
As a public service broadcaster, the BBC could not responsibly continue to air a daily dose of 12 hours to a relatively small audience and the move to Sky had been inevitable.
Far from being “driven by money”, the R&A showed great loyalty to the BBC and for 20 years accepted far below market value for this prized asset which funds all other projects.
One is sympathetic to veteran broadcasters whose day is probably over and resigned to comments from the usual suspects on the pro-tour but this is actually a good deal for the BBC.
Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
We really don’t need this
Sir, Your front page story on February 4 stated that: “Fife has a statutory responsibility under the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 to publish a Gaelic Language Plan by February 28”. Might I suggest that Fife’s plan should consist of one sheet of typed paper, saying: “It could be interesting and culturally stimulating for Fifers to learn Gaelic maybe.”
That would be cheap to produce, and uncontroversial, involving no further expenditure. Our council is cash-strapped so cash strapped that when the Byre Theatre failed, it lay shut for a year until a way was found to more or less give it away to St Andrews University. A public asset.
Don’t let anyone tell you our ‘Gaelic Plan’ won’t cost money. Gaelic “experts” might have to be called in and paid and, of course, the plan will envisage actions and expenditures as yet unknown to councillors and the public.
I once attended a hilarious meeting in Glenrothes, at which various worthies from the Gaelic Board were visiting to do their statutory consultation with us about our need to promote Gaelic. Perhaps not realising we speak English in these parts, these publicly-funded persons conducted the meeting in Gaelic. You could get an English translation through headphones, but if you asked a question in English you were ignored.
In Fife we need Gaelic like we need a hole in the head.
Crawford Mackie. 78 Loughborough Road, Kirkcaldy.
Ill-informed decisions
Sir, If our elected representatives are to make decisions on linguistic matters, they should do so on the basis of knowledge rather than ill-informed prejudice.
Gaelic was the language spoken by the majority of the Fife population until the 15th Century, when Scots (the northern-most of the Middle English dialects) began pushing that language north and west away from the Forth estuary and the North Sea coast.
Uncertainty about the extent of the Gaelic usage in Fife can easily be dispelled by looking at the very place-names which lie at the heart of the present controversy.
The vast majority of these names are Gaelic or Pictish in origin (eg Pittenweem: Gaelic ‘pett’ plus Gaelic ‘an’ plus Gaelic ‘uaimh’ equals ‘estate of the cave’). Of all the regions of the UK the place-names of Fife have been the mostcomprehensively documented and analysed.
Before pontificating further on this matter, Fife councillors could consult the four volumes of Simon Taylor’s remarkable Place Names of Fife.
They would emerge better informed not just about the language of the place theypurport to govern, but also about its history.
(Prof) Anthony Lodge. Schoolhouse, Carnbee, Anstruther.
£40m always optimistic
Sir, Your leading article yesterday complained about the lack of transparency regarding the V&A costs. I say “well done Dundee City Council”. By working behind the scenes with a minimum of fuss the council have just injected another £30m or so into the local community.
The way the council has acted has resulted in a minimal amount of criticism about the overspend and has avoided endless discussions about whether or not the new cost represents value for money.
Personally the whole issue does not surprise me, building an iconic building for just £40m always seemed a bit optimistic. Please let’s celebrate an amazing coup by DCC the result of which may well be transformational for our whole city.
John Palfreyman. The Neuk, Saddam Road, Coupar Angus.
Disappointing we need these
Sir, Having been brought up very well in the period just after the Second World War, when there was real poverty among the working class, I am disappointed that we now have a need for foodbanks.
I am concerned, however, about the abuse by irresponsible individuals who use the help when they are unwilling to work (officially).
I hope I am wrong, but it seems that having registered to get the benefits, regardless of any change in circumstances, the individuals who use the facilities continue to do so. Are those who have registered required to produce evidence of continued need?
No doubt many willdisagree with my thoughts.
Tom Cook. 15 Whitecraig Road, Newburgh.